Concerns about Northwest Airlines' new flight schedule out of Aberdeen Regional Airport is prompting the airline to consider re-scheduling a flight earlier.
A final decision, however, isn't expected until at least Nov. 1. As of this month, Mesaba's first flight out of Aberdeen to Minneapolis is at 8:10 a.m. It had been at 6:46 a.m. but the airline cut that flight in an attempt to save money.
The 8:10 a.m. flight is too late for many business travelers to make connections to the east and west coasts. It also makes it difficult for people who travel regularly to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to make good connections.
Dave Osborn, city transportation director, told the airport board Thursday the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce had received about 10 letters expressing concerns over the new schedule.
In a conference call earlier this week between Northwest scheduling officials and Aberdeen Mayor Mike Levsen, Osborn said the city received a verbal commitment that the airline would at least look at rescheduling the first flight out.
Travelers' ability to make connecting flights has been a concern since Northwest announced last month it was cutting one flight out of Aberdeen each day.
The current 8:10 a.m. flight replaced both the 6:46 a.m. and 8 a.m. flights. Although a flight was cut, the number of available seats increased because Aberdeen now shares the morning flight with Jamestown, N.D., instead of Pierre, and fewer people travel out of Jamestown.
Business travelers out of Aberdeen relied on the 6:46 a.m. flight to make coastal connection flights that would arrive by noon. Osborn said the new, later flight can mean an extra day of travel for those folks.
Northwest officials also said they were considering pushing the last flight in from Minneapolis back about 15 minutes. That, Osborn said, would allow travelers coming from the west coast to leave there at 3 p.m. and still arrive in Aberdeen the same day.
Currently, that flight leaves Minneapolis at 9:05 p.m. and arrives in the Hub City at 10:30 p.m.
Osborn said that change depends on whether Northwest and Mesaba Airlines - Northwest's regional partner - determine whether crews in Jamestown will be able to stay that much later to receive that plane, which continues to Jamestown after leaving Aberdeen.
Osborn said Northwest's scheduling decision may be announced as soon as Nov. 1, but it also may not be announced until Dec. 15.
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