Region 2000 leaders support work to keep air service strong in region
December 21, 2010
The Region 2000 Economic Development Council (EDC) and the Local Government Council (LGC) stepped up efforts during the past couple of months to keep air service strong in the Lynchburg region.
When Delta announced in late October that it would pull service out of Lynchburg in January, 2011, EDC and LGC board members quickly responded to the efforts of Airport Director Mark Courtney and the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce to keep Delta in Lynchburg.
The EDC board members, most of which are local business leaders, wrote letters to the Delta CEO to encourage a closer look at the business case behind the decision. They cited strong passenger numbers in the region and the importance of the Atlanta connections to business-critical travel.
The region's local government leaders who sit on the board of the Local Government Council also answered the call to support these efforts. They wrote and signed an official resolution citing Delta's 16-year history in the region and that 2010 had the highest number of passengers in that history, among other facts.
Since the letters were sent, airport officials have been working on alternative solutions as well, such as meeting with other airlines as reported by the News and Advance here .
Thanks to everyone who participated in these efforts. We will stay in close contact with the Lynchburg Chamber and airport officials to follow the situation.