The Virginian-Pilot
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Delta Air Lines announced Friday that it will begin nonstop flights between Norfolk International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York in March.
But that probably won't increase options for fliers to the Big Apple.
That's because Delta and US Airways, with federal approval, are swapping more than 100 "landing slots" at LaGuardia and Reagan National Airport.
As part of its effort to expand its presence at LaGuardia, Delta said it would offer 10 flights daily, five in each direction, between Norfolk and LaGuardia. Eight, four in each direction, will begin March 25. The two others will start July 11.
US Airways runs about five nonstop flights in each direction daily, said Wayne Shank, executive director of Norfolk International Airport.
A US Airways spokeswoman said she did not know when it would stop its Norfolk-to-LaGuardia flights.
"It's business as usual for several months," said Valerie Wunder, a spokeswoman in Tempe, Ariz.
Most reductions, Wunder said, will take place in two phases next year, the first at the end of March and the second in mid-July.
The US Airways flights to and from LaGuardia usually accommodate 37 to 50 people, Shank said. Delta's announcement said its flights would hold 50 people.
But Shank said Delta is considering flying 70-seat jets to Norfolk, which could add first-class service.
"I don't think we will see an initial increase in frequency of service," Shank said. "What I think it will be is an upgrade in the type of equipment used to service the market."
Leslie Parker Scott, a spokeswoman for Delta in Minneapolis, said, "We see Norfolk as a really robust business community, and that is the customer that flies to LaGuardia."
Delta announced in 2009 that it planned to start Norfolk-to-LaGuardia service, but the move was held up pending approval from federal regulators.
Tickets for the Delta flights will be available today. Scott said she couldn't provide details on prices.
Jack Hornbeck, the president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said he has not heard demand from businesses for additional flights to and from New York.
"I think the fact that we will be able to maintain that frequency of service is good news," he said.
According to Delta's schedule, flights will leave Norfolk from 6:15 a.m. through 6:40 p.m. That, Hornbeck said, will allow businesspeople to make a round trip in one day.
Another option for local travelers to New York will soon disappear.
AirTran Airways, which was bought by Southwest Airlines, will discontinue flights between Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport and LaGuardia in March.
Elsewhere in Virginia, Delta announced Friday that it will launch service from LaGuardia to Richmond and Roanoke next year.
Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com
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Funny
Two of the worst airlines in the region making deals. None of it will improve their service to their passengers. None of it will have any serious impact on air travel. Until they improve passenger service, they're only airlines of last resort for most people.
What Type Aircraft?
Regional jet, MD series or 757?
Type of Aircraft.....
All Regional Jets
DL to start ORF-LGA service
Keep in mind, this is all part of the DL/US swap of takeoff and landing slots at LGA and DCA. While DL will add 5 flights and this is a good thing, US will most likely drop all 8 of their ORF-LGA flights. When the deal was announced, ORF was not on the list of cities US would maintain out of LGA. So when all is said and done, there will be three less flights per day to LGA. What I hope we see is that as Airtran drops PHF-LGA service, DL will upgauge some of the LGA flights. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Also, there is rumor that 1 of the DL ORF-JFK flights will be dropped once the LGA service begins.