Residents will soon be able to fly Delta Airlines nonstop between Baton Rouge and five new major cities – a move that city and airport officials say should funnel more money into the economy and create an added convenience for fliers.
The additions come as the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is experiencing higher traffic after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But a Delta representative said the additions had been planned for several months prior to the hurricanes.
Delta announced Monday the addition of five new destinations – New York City, Washington D.C., Cincinnati, Atlanta and Orlando – within the next two months at a reduced rate of about $190 roundtrip.
Airport officials said the service will benefit students who want to go home for breaks.
The airport has two terminals and 10 gates used by four airlines – Delta, Northwest, Continental and American Eagle, a commuter subsidiary of American Airlines. The services will add seven daily flights to Atlanta and one daily flight to the other cities.
Mayor-President Kip Holden said Baton Rouge had the reputation of being a sleepy little town incapable of being awakened.
“Today the headlines should read, ‘Moving on Up,'” Holden said.
Holden said the city will see immediate effects from the additional flights.
Holden said residents will benefit from being able to take a flight for a weekend or to see family. He added that with the holidays approaching, the luxury of being able to fly to New York for holiday shopping is now more accessible for residents.
With additional passengers flying in and out of the airport, Holden said, an economic boom can be expected in the area.
In years past, he said, business had been reluctant to establish branches in Baton Rouge partly because of not having an airport that serviced a number of major cities.
The airport presently services Houston, Dallas, Memphis, St. Louis and Chicago.
“This will take us up to the level for businesses looking for a home,” Holden said.
Mike Anastas, director of real estate properties and airport affairs for Delta Airlines, said the addition of flights in Baton Rouge had been in the works even before Hurricane Katrina.
Anastas also said that services to New Orleans will not be reduced.
Ronnie Pickard, marketing manager at the Baton Rouge airport, said he thinks students will be able to take advantage of the additional flights.
Pickard said that destinations like New York and Washington are often traveled to by students and recent graduates. He also said that Orlando has a large commerce industry and direct flights will make it easier for students to access the Orlando job market.
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]