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Fulton residents get glimpse at Delta’s plan

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

More than 7,000 employees will lose their jobs in the latest shake-up by Delta Air Lines to improve its financial situation.

On Wednesday, CEO Gerald Grinstein unveiled the plan which he claims will reinvent the airline.

The most drastic aspect of the plan is eliminating Delta’s hub operations at Dallas and moving flights and folks from Dallas to Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Cincinnati.

Locally, officials are not sure what impact the drastic restructuring of the airline will have on the economy, but Fulton officials are keeping their eyes on the airline’s future.

“We’re definitely concerned. It’s going to have a ripple effect throughout the whole region,” said South Fulton Chamber of Commerce Director John Boothby.

While Boothby believes most of the job cuts will be in Dallas, there are still some management level jobs that are likely to be cut.

“You’ll see it in a lot of the restaurants in College Park, East Point and Hapeville,” Boothby said.

The Chamber director believes residents will start cutting back on all non-essential items, such as entertainment and eating out. But he does see a glimmer of hope in Delat’s announcement. Delta plans to run more flights out of Atlanta than any airline in history.

“That’s what put Atlanta on the map was all the passengers flying in here,” he said.

Boothby also said that KLM plans to move its Miami operations to Atlanta, which will bring even more passengers to the world’s busiest airport.

If residents are layed off, Boothby said they can contact the Chamber od the Fulton County Workforce Development Center for assistance in finding other employment.