December 16 Fewer flights between Richmond, NYC likely (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Richmonders will likely see less air service and higher ticket prices to the New York market as Delta Air Lines and US Airways exchange flying rights in the Northeast.
Come this spring, Delta is expected to be the only carrier from Richmond International to New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports as US Airways is expected to withdraw from the Richmond-New York market.
"The math's not so difficult here," said Troy Bell, Richmond International Airport's director of marketing and air service development. "It is plainly a reduction in flights and competition to a key Richmond market."
Delta Air Lines announced Friday that it is boosting its flights out of New York's LaGuardia airport, making it the biggest airline between New York's three major airports and cities in the U.S. in an effort to gain more business travelers.
Those extra travelers probably won't be coming from Richmond under the changes kicked off by the Delta-US Airways slot swaps.
Richmond International Airport expects to have four fewer flights to New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports in April than it has now on peak days as the two airlines swap air traffic slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport and Northern Virginia's Reagan Washington National Airport.
Reduced service also will likely lead to higher fares to New York, which is Richmond's top air-travel destination, officials said.
"It will probably cause the Richmond-New York fares to go up even more," said Kim Scheeler, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Chamber, which has been pushing for better air service and promoting the use of discount carriers to keep prices down. "Fewer seats means more competition for the seats remaining, which means higher fares."
A Delta spokeswoman said, "We can't comment on future pricing actions."
Robust and competitively priced airline service is an important factor for the capital region's economic health.
University of Richmond transportation economist George E. Hoffer rated the changes as "a slight negative for RIC."