KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — United Airlines will now be allowed to suspend flights to Kalamazoo and Lansing as it looks to control costs amid an unprecedented drop in air travel.
The U.S. Department of Transportation approved the airliner’s request to drop and consolidate services on Friday, May 22nd.
The regulatory change was made to help multiple airlines by giving them the option to suspend certain flights while still receiving federal stimulus funding. Airline companies had previously been prohibited from dropping services for financial reasons as a condition for obtaining federal funding from the CARES Act.
“This order tentatively grants exemptions to 15 covered carriers from the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) airline service obligations, allowing them to suspend service through September 30, 2020, to certain points subject to conditions,” read the department order.
United will now no longer have to operate flights to and from the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport and Capital Region International Airport in Lansing.
Under the issue-order Delta Airlines will also be able to suspend flights to and from the Flint Bishop Airport.
A request by United to previously suspend flights to the Kalamazoo area was denied, but now that federal regulators have issued the new order the airline company plans to phase out services at the facility until the September 30th deadline.
Director of the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport Craig Williams told MLive that he’s disappointed by United’s departure but is hopeful that they will return in the fall.
“Our focus now is on ensuring United’s return in October and making sure that when they do they can do so with the optimism that they will succeed in serving southwest Michigan,” said Williams.
