ALPENA - Jen McNamara flies regularly from the Alpena County Regional Airport. She has concerns about how Delta Air Lines' plans to drop flights from Alpena will affect her ability to work effectively.
The Alpena resident works remotely for an information technology/accounting consulting company based in Houston, Texas. Her employer agreed to let her work remotely from home with the caveat that she would be willing to travel up to 25 percent of the time. All of the company's clients are outside of Michigan, and most are located outside of the Midwest. When she travels, it has to be by plane. She has been flying out of Alpena about once a month since late 2008.
"It's important for my work that I be able to get to my final destination quickly and efficiently. Time is money. If I am spending hours behind the wheel just driving to the airport, that's time I'm not spending working, making money for my employers and making our clients happy," she said. "I worry that even if another carrier is found to replace Delta, they will not have the size to easily get me where I need to go without a lot of connections. The nice thing about Delta is they are one of the world's largest airlines, and one of their largest hubs is Detroit. Once you get to Detroit you can go just about anywhere on Delta."
Delta notified the U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday it's looking to adjust its flights and drop money-losing flights in 24 small cities, including the Alpena airport, Pellston, Iron Mountain, Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie. The company said it has been losing $14 million a year on the flights that are primarily in the Midwest.
Billi McRoberts, Alpena airport manager, said the airport had no idea this would happen. She was notified by Delta of a conference call scheduled for Friday regarding the retirement of the Saab turboprops, however, she was out of town on Friday and wasn't able to take part in the call. She found out about the news from reading a Detroit News article.
McRoberts is concerned about how Delta's plans will affect a three-tier project the airport and county are working on with the company, Explorer Solutions. The project involves bringing a niche business into the area and is in its second phase.
"I just think attracting the businesses here is going to be more difficult. It would have been wonderful to have an airline like Delta here," she said.
Enplanements are another area of concern with regard to Delta's plans. The airport receives $1 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration for capital improvements if it reaches 10,000 enplanements in a year. In 2001, the airport had 10,674 enplanements, McRoberts said.
"Since then, I don't believe we have reached that goal at all except for one year. This year, especially since last year, they've really come up," she said. "I was really confident we were going to hit our 10,000 enplanements this year, but I don't know if we will or not."
The plans are another bump in the road for the county and airport to go through. The news is disappointing, but there have been some problems recently, Lyle Van Wormer, Alpena County Board of Commissioners vice chair, said.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to that because we've been working to try and get enplanements up," he said.
Cam Habermehl, Alpena County Board of Commissioners chair, believes the weak demand cited by Delta for some flights has occurred because the flights are canceled.
"I think people just don't trust the airline here anymore. They need to fix that problem," he said. "I think if people could depend on the airline, they could fill every seat on the plane."
State and federal lawmakers have been in contact with Delta regarding its plans.
U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, R- Mich., said in a statement he has asked Delta CEO Richard Anderson for a briefing on the company's decision. He also offered to organize a meeting between Delta and area business owners so the airline may better gauge the economic importance and increased flier potential for the region. He will continue to press Delta and other air carriers about the opportunities for growth in northern Michigan if flights are regularly available.
"Delta's decision to alter its services to northern Michigan is disappointing, but I don't accept it as a deathblow to the region," he said.
State Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, said he intends to work with the federal delegation, Benishek and State Rep. Peter Pettalia, R-Presque Isle, to communicate the importance of continued service to Alpena's airport. He also has been in touch with Delta and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
"The good news is federal law protects underserved areas, and I think it's important to insist service to continue uninterrupted," he said.
McRoberts said Delta is required to continue providing service until another carrier is selected by the DOT. The process takes time and she doesn't see it happening before the end of the year. For some reason, it's difficult to attract carriers to the Alpena area, she added.
"I'm doing everything I can to keep Delta here if that's a possibility and to make sure we get good air service in here," she said.
Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.