Capital feeling bullish
Economic good news is latest in a monthlong series
The biggest kitty came Wednesday as Delta Air Lines released details of its restructuring plan to avoid bankruptcy a plan that includes expanding service in its Salt Lake City hub by 58 flights daily. Still, the good Delta news was somewhat tempered by ongoing concerns about the airline's financial status and whether the restructuring plan will save the company.
But those worries didn't stop Salt Lake City leaders from being generally giddy Wednesday as they considered their recent slate of good economic news.
First, leaders of the semiannual Outdoor Retailer convention, which pumps $32 million into the local economy, announced last month they were staying in Salt Lake City for five more years after threatening to leave for Las Vegas.
A few weeks later, Wal-Mart opened it first SuperCenter in Utah's capital, bringing 530 new jobs. Then, just a couple days after that, Nordstrom announced it wouldn't be leaving the city as it had promised for years after all and instead would be moving to new downtown digs as part of the LDS Church's multimillion-dollar redevelopment effort. Nordstrom's announcement kept 280 jobs in Salt Lake City.
Of course, Wednesday brought the kicker as Delta announced it would not be abandoning its Salt Lake City hub as some industry analysts had suggested it should.
"It's feeling like things are turning a bit, and there's a lot of optimism," City Council chairwoman Jill Remington Love said.
Delta's decision means its roughly 4,000 jobs will stay in Utah, and the 58 new flights likely mean more jobs will be coming to the Salt Lake City International Airport.
"This is Delta saying, 'Yes we are going to go with you,' " said Meg Holbrook, chairwoman of the Utah Air Travel Commission. "And, along with Nordstrom staying, this is very good economic news for the state of Utah."
Delta's commitment to Salt Lake City is a good recruitment tool for downtown interests, Downtown Alliance executive director Bob Farrington said.
"Everybody is a beneficiary of their presence," he said. "For downtown being so close to a major hub within 10 minutes is kind of unheard of, so that convenience is a big selling point."
Still, Delta's recommitment to Salt Lake City will only add to the airline's dominance at the city's airport. Already, the airline or its connections account for over 75 percent of all commercial flights out of the airport. The addition of 58 new flights means Delta will control well over 80 percent of all the airport's flights.
The dominance has led to some concerns about a monopoly that would stifle competition and result in expensive fares.
Comments
- New lives for pit bulls 11:23 p.m.
- Lobbyist disclosure law hit & miss 11:22 p.m.
- State Am: More than golf for Stimpson 11:14 p.m.
- Sleepy Ridge offers much for many 11:09 p.m.
- Sentencing delayed in con man's case 11:07 p.m.
- Draper Days bronc riding 11:07 p.m.
- Ex-S.L. man pleads guilty in Florida 11:07 p.m.
- 2 W.V. men charged with lewdness 11:06 p.m.
- Defense prepares for murder case 11:05 p.m.
- Utah man gets 51 months for fraud 11:05 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - LDS seminary principal arrested
137 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
83 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
wisdom. Call Prichard's bluff and let Millsap go. It is too much money and he...
My bad I forgot Thomas.
Tough decision in my eyes. Yes it is a lot of money to pay for Milsap to sit...
The definition of "lie" is to make an untrue statement with the intent to...
why do people complain about the story vs. not story. If you don't think the...
Know your enemy: relax no one cares about the spelling. Anonymous: I agree...
I'm sure glad he saved us! No if we could just get those sea levels down...
I am supposing they were trying to get on the news, and in the newspapers....
What a great Idea, 12 years of hard labor vs. siting on your butt for 12...
There has been no evidence of a possible global collapse. The only evidence...



You can be the first to comment on this story.