Delta airport receives bids from two more airlines

GREENVILLE — Two more airlines have filed bids with the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide service the Greenville Mid-Delta Airport.

The Delta Democrat Times reports the bids came from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based Sun Air and Dallas-based Blue Sky Airlines.

The companies are hoping to get a federal subsidy to provide air service through the USDOT’s Essential Air Service program.

Last July, Delta said it could no longer serve 24 small airports across the country. Included on the list were Tupelo, Greenville and Hattiesburg. Delta gets EAS subsidies to fly in those cities.

Airport director Lane Rodgers says St. Louis-based Multi-Aero Inc., which operates as Air Choice One and SeaPort Airlines Inc., headquartered in Portland, Ore., also want to provide service to Greenville.

“We’re evaluating the proposals,” said Rodgers. “We’re going to have service. At this point, it’s too early to say which airline will be servicing us.”

Rodgers said Delta can’t abandon air service without government approval.

Rodgers said he hopes an airline will be chosen by March 1.