Delta Airlines switches to jet service at GTRA

GOLDEN TRIANGLE — Delta Airlines is bringing jet service to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport that services the Columbus, Starkville and West Point area.

The last flight out of GTRA by a turbo-prop Saab 340 came March 31.

GTRA airport executive director Mike Hainsey says Delta’s two 32-passenger twin-engine turboprop flights at the airport will be replaced by one 50-passenger regional jet flight.

He says the Saabs have flown out of the airport for more than 20 years.

Hainsey says GTRA’s passenger traffic has been increasing 10 percent to 15 percent for the past six months.

Hainsey says the jets are more fuel-efficient than the Saab 340, saving the facility money.

Delta made the decision to retire the turbo-props by the end of 2011 because of rising fuel costs.

Source: Associated Press