Commuter air service takes flight

"Convenience" was the word used most often by travelers flying Thursday on the first Delta commuter plane out of the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in 15 years.

Delta's new commuter airline service from Muscle Shoals will give Shoals residents options for making flight connections out of Atlanta-Jackson Hartsfield International Airport, the largest airport in the world.

Delta Connection is providing two non-stop flights each day as opposed to the three flights formerly offered by Northwest Airlink to Memphis International Airport. That service made a stop in Tupelo, Miss., before continuing to Memphis.

Several members of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, including President Steve Holt, and the mayors of Florence and Muscle Shoals flew to Atlanta on the inaugural flight Thursday and met with Delta Air Lines officials.

The first flight from Atlanta arrived Wednesday evening.

Chamber member Marty Abroms said the key to success will be convincing residents to once again consider flying out of the Shoals.

One way to do that is to point out the advantages of using the local airport.

Despite a two-hour delay leaving Muscle Shoals because of a mechanical issue, Thursday's flight to Atlanta was smooth and took less than an hour.

Delta Air Lines brought a plane in from Greenville, Miss., for the flight, which left shortly after 8 a.m.

The return flight left on time and arrived in Muscle Shoals five minutes early.

Larry Bonday, a former Shoals resident who now lives in Chicago, was flying to Muscle Shoals to visit friends for the Fourth of July. Bonday said he prefers flying through Atlanta to the Shoals.

"I didn't like the transfer through Memphis," he said. "They always lost my luggage. We'll be back in two weeks. We've already booked our flight."

Dr. Santanu Borah, a management professor at the University of North Alabama College of Business, was traveling with his family to Washington, D.C., for a conference. Despite having to take a later flight to his destination because of the delay, Borah said he likes the new service.

"This is definitely more convenient," Borah said. "We didn't have to go (to the airport) an hour before to check in. It was a breeze."

Phillip Rhodes was traveling to Harrisburg, Pa., and likes being able to get there through Atlanta rather than Memphis.

"I was going to fly from Huntsville, but I can now go to Atlanta to Pennsylvania," Rhodes said.

Rhodes said he flies out of Muscle Shoals whenever it's convenient.

While the Atlanta airport is extremely large, it is relatively easy to navigate and commuter trains provide quick access to other terminals. There are numerous shops and a variety of restaurants at the airport.

Florence resident Justin Austin, who was bound for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., wasn't fazed by the morning delay.

"I've run across that before," he said.

Austin said he would continue to use the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport so long as the fares are comparable.

Harold L. Bevis Jr., managing director of public affairs for Delta Air Lines, and Delores Gallego, regional director of state and local affairs for Delta, met with the chamber group at the Atlanta airport.

Bevis said the Shoals group was the largest delegation to meet with him in his 44 years with Delta.

He said Delta would "work hard" to keep fares in line with those offered by Delta at the Huntsville International Airport.

"We're going to work hard to fill your airplane up," said Barry Auchly, chairman of the chamber's Air Services Committee.

Muscle Shoals Mayor David Bradford said the return of the Atlanta connection is a pivotal point for commercial air service in the Shoals.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.