The federal Department of Transportation has received two bids for subsidized passenger air service to Meridian, and Mayor John Robert Smith has announced that he will strongly recommend to DOT that Delta Airline’s bid, through ASA, be awarded.

In March, Delta announced that it would cease operations at the Meridian Regional Airport as of June 19, citing high fuel costs as the reason it could not continue non-subsidized service to Meridian. Because Meridian is designated as an Essential Air Service community, DOT immediately notified Delta that it must continue service until DOT could seek bids for subsidized service. The bids received were from Delta and from Mesaba Aviation, dba Northwest Air Link.

The Delta bid calls for a continuation of 13 non-stop round trips between Meridian and Atlanta per week on 50-seat, CRJ-200 jet aircraft. The Mesaba bid calls for 13 non-stop trips per week to Memphis on 34-seat, Saab 340 propeller aircraft. Delta sought a subsidy of $686,489, while Mesaba asked for a subsidy of $960,472.

In recommending the Delta bid, Mayor Smith said that Delta’s package was superior because of the use of jet aircraft and a larger passenger capacity. He also pointed out that, from Atlanta, passengers can connect to 129 Delta U.S. destinations and 71 international destinations. The Memphis hub proposed by Mesaba, on the other hand, serves 88 destinations.

“We appreciate both airlines’ interest in serving Meridian,” said Mayor Smith. “However, the Delta proposal is clearly superior and will afford our local and regional passengers a continuation of the level of service they have enjoyed for many years with Delta.”

Next week, Mayor Smith will formally inform DOT of the community’s preference. DOT will make its decision and award a contract shortly thereafter.