CLEVELAND — Delta Air Lines has announced it will no longer operate flights in and out of Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), instead shifting that travel to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).
Delta confirmed the cost-cutting measure will take effect on May 13 on its website on Friday, calling it an effort "to minimize COVID-19 exposure risk while customer traffic is low."
CAK is one of 10 airports that will be affected by the decision, a choice which is not expected to impact Delta's ability to receive US Cares Act funding for payroll assistance.
To continue to receive the federal aid, airlines must continue to provide at least minimal air service to all the U.S. cities they served prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, airlines are permitted to consolidate flights to a single location in regions where they serve multiple airports. They can also seek a wavier to suspend flights while still receiving federal dollars.
It was not immediately clear how Delta employees based out of the airports with suspended travel would be impacted.
The move comes as people have been refraining from non-essential travel and planes have been operating with nearly empty cabins.
“It is causing an awful lot of planes to be flown with one passenger, five passengers, [and] that does not help with any liquidity in the long run,” A4A president and CEO Nicholas Calio told the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on May 6. “We shouldn’t be flying airplanes that are empty.”
The following changes will take effect this week, through at least September:
- Temporarily Suspended: Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) - Temporarily Suspended: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Temporarily Suspended: Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)Temporarily Suspended: Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)Temporarily Suspended: Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)Temporarily Suspended: T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport:Logan International Airport (BOS)Temporarily Suspended: Westchester County Airport (HPN)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: LaGuardia Airport (LGA)Temporarily Suspended: Stewart International Airport (SWF)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)Temporarily Suspended: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: Logan International Airport (BOS)Temporarily Suspended: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF)
Nearest Delta-Served Airport: Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
