The US Department of Transportation has approved Delta Airlines’ request to suspend service to several cities - including Flint.
Delta said it made the request to reduce the number of frontline workers at risk of exposure for the coronavirus.
At the time of the request, officials with Bishop International Airport, which services Flint, said the airline was seeing roughly eight passengers a day.
Airport director Nino Sapone said the move will hurt them financially and efforts are already underway to show Delta that demand for flights is there.
“We already reached out to the business community and got letters of support for the service. We’re going to show them the numbers are here. We’re optimistic we can get them back.”
Sapone said he expects more airports will be struggling as airliners decide whether to continue service during the pandemic.
“It’s a roller coaster ride with the airlines right now. They are all looking at restructuring their operations and restructuring their routes. You’re going to see more of this, not just with Delta, they are all going to do it.’
Sapone said service could return by September 30th.
But, he said, the situation is uncertain. In a written statement the airport noted the suspension in service was “not necessarily a market exit.”