FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2013
Contact: Mike Kanarick
802.735.7962
Mayor Miro Weinberger Celebrates Inaugural Delta Air Lines Non-Stop Flight from BTV to ATL
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, Aviation Director Gene Richards, and other airport officials and stakeholders today at a South Concourse news conference celebrated the inaugural Delta Air Lines flight from Burlington International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, marking the return of non-stop air service from BTV to ATL. The 7:15am inaugural flight marked the first time a Delta mainline aircraft has served BTV, using an MD-88 aircraft to seat up to 149 passengers.
“Today’s start of new, daily service to Atlanta is another important step in the right direction for the Burlington International Airport and the region’s economy,” said Weinberger. “Delta’s new, non-stop service to Atlanta will provide our community with a link to the world’s busiest airport. Burlington, our neighbors, and people all over Vermont are fortunate to have this added opportunity to more easily reach their business or personal travel destinations. We thank and welcome Delta’s BTV to ATL service back to Burlington and wish all travelers to and from Burlington safe travels.”
Today’s Delta flight marks the first time since October 2009 that Delta has offered non-stop service between BTV and ATL. Richards remarked: “The return of this non-stop flight to Atlanta on Delta Air Lines signifies a great moment in BTV history. So many individuals worked hard to land this new service, and I am proud to be traveling on the first flight to Atlanta from our great Airport.”
Atlanta currently is the world’s busiest airport in terms of both passengers and landings, with Delta operating the world’s largest hub from the ATL. Delta representatives will be on hand to greet the flight when it arrives in Atlanta.
“We’re pleased to offer new, non-stop service between Burlington and Atlanta, Delta’s largest hub,” said Bob Cortelyou, Senior Vice President of Network Planning. “The new service meets growing marketplace demand, while providing Burlington and its surrounding communities with expanded connection opportunities to the Southeast and Latin America. The Atlanta flight also complements existing service to Delta’s Detroit and New York LaGuardia hubs.”
The new air service to and from Burlington will be subsidized using a Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Grant that was awarded to BTV in August 2012. The grant will provide a $450,000 revenue guarantee to Delta, as well as marketing support by both the State of Vermont and the Airport in the amounts of $45,000 and $50,000, respectively.
The return of the BTV to ATL non-stop flight was welcomed by Tom Torti, President and CEO of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, who said: “The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce is very pleased with the return of Delta’s non-stop service from Burlington to Atlanta. Under the Mayor’s and Gene’s leadership, Burlington has made great progress at the Airport to vastly improve the customer experience, to reach out to additional carriers, and to add new routes. The airport is a key economic development driver for the region and the state and the addition of the Atlanta flight opens the door for increased economic opportunity.”
Also attending the event were: Guy Rouelle, Aeronautics Administrator, Vermont Agency of Transportation; Jeff Munger, BTV Commission Chair; Heather Kendrew, BTV Director of Engineering, Maintenance, and Environmental Compliance; Kelly Colling, BTV Director of Operations; Ryan Betcher, BTV Marketing Assistant; Karen Paul, Ward 6 City Councilor and Co-Chair of the Burlington City Council Airport Strategic Planning Committee; and Sharon Bushor, Ward 1 City Councilor.
After the news conference, those attending the event witnessed a ceremonial water salute, where fire trucks from the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Emergency Services sprayed streams of water over the jet as it taxied toward the runway.
###
