Big 3 Airlines Have Dropped 59 Airports Since Start of Pandemic
Small airports often struggle to maintain or grow service even in normal times. So when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, they were the obvious casualties for major airlines to consolidate operations.
The practice has continued in recent months, with American, Delta, and United announcing route cuts, citing poor performance and the pilot shortage as contributing factors.
Federal programs keep some small airports connected to the nation’s air system, but the pandemic has dismantled service at others. The Transportation Department’s Essential Air Service subsidizes flights to areas that otherwise might not be served as they don’t make sense financially. The department has used another program to award more than $200 million since 2002 to help small communities grow air service. An additional $5 million was added to the program during the Covid relief package almost two years ago.
Aviation consulting firm Ailevon Pacific reviewed Cirium data to determine which airports the US’ biggest airlines have left since 2020. The company’s research revealed American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have exited 59 airports. In total, American has left 14 airports, Delta has exited 13, and United has departed 32.
Most of the airports are still served by competing carriers, but a few of them are left without any airline service. Specifically, American has departed Dubuque, Iowa, and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but neither has seen another operator as of yet.
You can see the full list of airports that have been dropped by the big 3 airlines here, and below.
American Airlines
- Oakland, California
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Dubuque, Iowa
- Sioux City, Iowa
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Meridian, Mississippi
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Joplin, Missouri
- Islip, New York
- Ithaca, New York
- Stewart, New York
- Toledo, Ohio
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
Delta Air Lines
- Fort Smith, Arkansas
- Santa Barbara, California
- Durango, Colorado
- Grand Junction, Colorado
- Peoria, Illinois
- Flint, Michigan
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Manchester, New Hampshire
- Stewart, New York
- New Bern, North Carolina
- Akron, Ohio
- Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Erie, Pennsylvania
United Airlines
- Texarkana, Arkansas
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Santa Rosa, California
- Stockton, California
- Alamosa, Colorado
- Destin, Florida
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Twin Falls, Idaho
- Evansville, Indiana
- Paducah, Kentucky
- Alexandria, Louisiana
- Monroe, Louisiana
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Lansing, Michigan
- Rochester, Minnesota
- Columbia, Missouri
- Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
- Kearney, Nebraska
- Ogdensburg, New York
- Plattsburgh, New York
- Pierre, South Dakota
- Watertown, South Dakota
- Abilene, Texas
- College Station, Texas
- Killeen, Texas
- San Angelo, Texas
- Shenandoah, Virginia
- Everett, Washington
- Clarksburg, West Virginia
- Lewisburg, West Virginia
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Mosinee, Wisconsin
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