Nonstop flight between the airport and New York City, Roanoke will continue, it appears, and could even be better.
U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, announced Friday that Delta Air Lines has agreed to keep direct flights between the Roanoke Regional Airport and LaGuardia Airport, New York. In addition, Delta said the flight would be jet service, Goodlatte said, which is an improvement over turboprop service US Airways provides the route. The plan still awaits a review of the U.s. Department of Justice.
Service to LaGuardia is in danger because of the “swap slot” between US Airways and Delta company involving slot at LaGuardia and Reagan National Airport in Washington, d.c., which further affected flights in smaller areas, including the Roanoke.
The Swap was approved by the U.S. Department of transportation last week, sparking concern that Roanoke will lose direct service to New York.
Roanoke’s business community in particular is concerned that the city might be a sudden shortage of fast connection to the country’s largest financial centre.