4th quarter 2009           

County, Daytona Beach International Airport honor Delta for 30 years of local air service

Delta Air Lines officials, Volusia County Council members and airport staff celebrated the airline's 30-year commitment to Volusia County and Daytona Beach International Airport passengers Sept. 8. The airline has demonstrated unwavering partnership with the airport since 1979.

As 30th anniversaries go, this one was rare. Delta Air Lines recently marked 30 years of service to Daytona Beach International Airport, a partnership the county-operated airport didn’t want to go unnoticed or unappreciated.

It was Sept. 8, 1979, when Delta commenced service between Daytona Beach and Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport. The route linked the region to Delta’s Atlanta hub airport system and provided worldwide connections to local residents and inbound travelers. While other airlines have come and gone, Delta has been a dedicated business partner at DBIA for three decades.

“Delta Air Lines has been a steadfast partner with Daytona Beach International Airport,” said Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno, who presided over a ceremony marking the achievement. He read a Volusia County Council-issued proclamation that proclaimed the day as “Delta Air Lines Day” in Volusia County on behalf of his colleagues on the Volusia County Council.

“We are overjoyed to celebrate Delta’s success at DBIA and want to thank them for 30 years of exceptional customer service,” said Bruno. “We look forward to the next 30 years of the partnership between Delta Air Lines and our airport.”

In fact, three of the airlines with which Delta competed here in 1979 have faded into the sunset of aviation history. Eastern Airlines, National Airlines and Air Florida have long since ceased business operation, while Delta has continued to serve Volusia County in good times and bad.

An anniversary celebration was in the ticketing lobby area of DBIA and drew business and government officials and appreciated residents, nearly all of whom have flown Delta from DBIA over the years. All of Delta’s station managers who have served at DBIA, and two Delta corporate representatives from Atlanta were on hand for the celebration.

Dennis McGee, Daytona Beach International Airport’s director of aviation who is wrapping up a 31-year career at DBIA, reminisced about the evolution of service at the airport and the effect Delta has had on growth at the airport.

“It is hard to overstate the importance of Delta Air Lines to Daytona Beach International Airport,” said McGee. “It is a great company that has been right by our side as we grew from a sleepy little municipal airport to a dynamic international facility serving people from throughout Central Florida.”