"It's enormously important," Wood said. "To have an efficient and growing transportation system is really vital. What has made Utah appealing is that we had such good service by air to many parts of the country, particularly the West Coast."

The airport also is a center of economic activity, Wood said, not only because it employs thousands but also because of the business it attracts and generates.

"It's one of the most important economic centers in the state. It generates all sorts of economic activity — from land development to industrial parks. All are tied to the activity at the airport. If we would have lost Delta, it certainly makes that area less attractive. There would be less employment, less wages and so forth."

Further, Wood said, having a hub gives Salt Lake City a transportation advantage and distinguishes it from competitors.

"Portland doesn't have a hub. Albuquerque doesn't. Reno doesn't. Boise doesn't. These are all cities we compete with regularly, cities that don't have the advantage of a hub," Wood said. "So the fact that Delta is going to stay and expand their operations is very significant. Now if they just don't go into bankruptcy."

Jobs, jobs, jobs

Delta's Black said it is "too early to determine" if there will be employment changes in Salt Lake City as a result of the restructuring. However, he said, "obviously, we're moving a percentage of our operation there."

Black also said Delta has not disclosed any estimates of the plan's dollar impact on Salt Lake City or its airport.

St. George-based SkyWest, Delta's Utah-based regional partner, said it and its Delta Connection sister carrier, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, will pick up the airline's additional Delta Connection flights out of Salt Lake City.

To handle the work, SkyWest spokesman Philip Gee said the airline will add about 150 more gate and ramp workers to its team of 2,000 in Salt Lake.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines will bring in about 35 maintenance workers, up to 175 pilots and as many crew members, according to spokeswoman Gina Pesko. ASA, an April 2003 entrant to the Salt Lake market, currently operates "only a handful" of flights out of Salt Lake International, Pesko said. After February 2005, that will increase to 43 departures.

Sadness in Dallas

In Dallas, about 2,000 Delta jobs are expected to be cut. In a statement released shortly after the Delta announcement, the Dallas/Fort Worth airport said it is "evaluating the financial impact to the airport regarding possible Delta operating decisions and will be implementing cost-cutting procedures to respond as needed."