Delta Air Lines will fly to Canadian Rockies International Airport for the summer season in 2009. The announcement of continued jet air service between Cranbrook and Delta’s western hub at Salt Lake City (SLC) was made shortly after winter service came to an end with the last flight on March 29.

The summer service will begin June 20 with once a week Saturday flights servicing YXC (Canadian Rockies International) until September 5 (Labour Day weekend.)  The flight times remain unchanged.  The 50 passenger RJ200 departs SLC at 11:10am, arrives YXC at 1:08pm.  The return flight departs YXC at 1:35pm and arrives SLC at 3:33pm.

“Delta has been evaluating all routes within their network since their merger with Northwest Airlines and particularly in light of the economic uncertainty in the U.S,” comments YXC Managing Director, Phillip Elchitz.  “We are delighted that we will be enjoying continued service to YXC for the summer season based on strong results shown during our first winter season, which is now complete. Despite many challenges associated with starting up a new route such as ours, February and March showed strong bookings and solid support from the community.”

Chris Dadson, President of Kootenay Rockies Tourism, is also very pleased with the continuation of service and with the results of the first season.  “Our ski season started slowly in the Kootenay Rockies region and that was reflected in December and January inbound numbers. But, as the season picked up and word continued to spread of our region’s new accessibility through Delta service, our load factors grew quickly and demonstrated a solid trend line right to the end of the season.”

The Delta flights from Cranbrook to Salt Lake City connect to hundreds of other cities worldwide. Bookings can now be made online at www.delta.com