(Memphis)?? He wouldn?t come right out and say it, but Memphis Mayor A C Wharton made it clear, his meeting with Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson didn?t go well.
?We?re both grown, we?re both big boys, just lay it on the table, and that?s what the meeting was about?, said Wharton. ?We should not just peg our future on the existing presence of delta, or hope for an expanded presence?.
When asked if that meant Delta had plans to eliminate it?s small hub at Memphis International Airport the mayor said he already feels like Memphis isn?t a hub, despite what Delta says.
?I?m just looking at reality and that leaves us as an annex to Atlanta as that airport continues to grow that?s just the reality of what we?re dealing with? said Wharton.
Delta recently cut more flights at Memphis International airport, and hub airport Delta inherited when it merged with Northwest Airlines more than five years ago. Since the merger Memphis has seen flights cut, which Delta has said was dictated by the demand for air travel out of Memphis and rising fuel prices.
Mayor Wharton has consistently said in past interviews Delta and Memphis were partners and had a wonderful relationship, but after this week?s meeting the mayor?s tone has changed.
?My strategy is not, ?if we do this Delta will change its mind.? ?We?ve got to be attractive. We?ve got to be able to show there?s market for someone to come in here and go head to head with Delta?, said Wharton.
?To the degree we go after other carriers, we have to show them there?s some viability. We have to show them, they can make it here if Delta cuts its fares here the minute they come in?.
It?s this type of tough talk Germantown resident Tom Jones says he?s been waiting to hear.
?Somebody has to speak honestly and tell us what the facts are and that sounds like what the mayor?s doing? Jones said.? He created the Facebook group, ?Delta Does Memphis? with more than 5,000 members it?s critical of both Delta Airlines and the Memphis Airport Authority for the high fares to fly out of Memphis International.
?Having the transition from where we are to where we?ll end up will be painful, there will be sacrifices but that?s what happens when you allow an airline to create a fortress hub?, added Jones.
Source: http://wreg.com/2012/07/04/mayor-says-memphis-future-cant-be-pegged-on-delta-air-lines/
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