Delta: Salem Safe From Cutbacks for Now

Delta said Wednesday it raised domestic fares by $10 round-trip to offset the rapidly rising cost of fuel.

Photo courtesy: Delta Airlines

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Delta Airlines said Wednesday that Salem's flights from McNary Field to Salt Lake City are safe from cuts for now.

The announcement comes one day after the Atlanta-based carrier laid out plans to offer severance payouts to more than half its work force and eliminate 5 percent of its domestic flights by August as it deals with soaring fuel prices.

Non-Stop twice-daily flights from Salem on Delta connection carrier SkyWest Airlines began on June 7th, 2007, and according to Delta spokesman Anthony Black so far the flights have made a profit for the airline.

As to if Salem will get additional flights this summer to Los Angeles, Black said so far we have made no announcement and until that time so far their are no plans for service between Salem and LAX.

The city has proposed a $175,000 revenue assistance program, to ensure that the airline makes monthly revenue targets for the service's first year. The money would include $100,000 in state lottery funds provided to Marion County. A state grant of $50,000 and $25,000 from Strategic Economic Development Corp., the local economic development agency, would provide the remainder of funds. The city also is recommending a $100,000 marketing program.

Portland and Eugene are also being spared from cuts. In fact, PDX will see an increase in daily flights, but Black couldn't say when that will occur.