The general manager of a Georgia regional airport expects no impact from the decision by Delta Air Lines and ExpressJet to end the companies’ relationship. ExpressJet, formerly known as Atlantic Southeast Airlines, is a Delta Connection partner serving regional airports across the south.
It is the only commercial carrier serving Valdosta Regional Airport, where it offers three round trips daily to Atlanta on 50-seat regional jets. Valdosta general manager Jim Galloway says the change, which is coming in the next few weeks, will be “transparent” for passengers from his airport.
First SkyWest, parent to ExpressJet, will handle the route, but by the fall, Endeavor Airlines will be the carrier in place. Endeavor is owned by Delta, and it will operate the same type of jets, from the same terminal at Valdosta.
Galloway pointed out that Delta is the tenant for the counter space, baggage handling space and gate space. It doesn’t matter to his airport which regional carrier serves the airport on Delta’s behalf. Passengers will continue to book flights through Delta, rather than the regional carrier.
ExpressJet was a frequent target of complaints from passengers and airport officials at regional locations because of frequent delays and cancellations. Often, that led passengers to simply drive to the hub airport. That, in turn, took revenue from both the regional airport and the regional airlines. With decline revenue and load factors, regional airlines saw little incentive to offer improved service to regional airlines.
Galloway said that was not an issue at Valdosta. Load factors on the flights have been running at or above 90 percent this year, he said. And passengers appreciate the convenience offered by the local airport.
ExpressJet, which is based in Atlanta, will focus on regional contracts with other airlines, primarily United. Chip Childs, CEO of SkyWest, said the changes should benefit his carrier. “Our objective to provide a strong and successful foundation for the people of ExpressJet is central to our strategy,” he said in a release announcing the change. “The execution of these new agreements is essential to finally getting ExpressJet to long-term success and profitability.”
Endeavor already flies routes to several regional airports in the South that once were served by ExpressJet.
