DOUGHERTY COMMENTS ON DELTA CLOSING

 DELTA AIRLINES IS CLOSING ITS SIOUX CITY RESERVATION CENTER. THE AIRLINE INFORMED THE CITY IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE FACILITY ON AUGUST 31ST AS PART OF A CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING.

CITY ECONOMIC DEVLOPMENT DIRECTOR MARTY DOUGHERTY SAYS HE'S DISAPPOINTED IN THE AIRLINE'S DECISION TO CLOSE THE CALL CENTER, BECAUSE IT'S CONSISTENTLY BEEN THEIR BEST PERFORMING FACILITY OF THEIR 17 CALL CENTERS:

AROUND 180 EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY WORK AT THE SIOUX CITY CENTER.  DELTA IS OFFERING THOSE WORKERS OPTIONS TO TRANSFER TO OTHER CTIES OR TO TAKE A SEVERANCE PACKAGE.

DOUGHERTY SAYS THE RESERVATION CENTER AT 4TH AND NEBRASKA MAY NOT BE VACANT FOR LONG.  THE CITY HAS ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED BY ANOTHER COMPANY THAT IS INTERESTED IN THE BUILDING AND THE WORKFORCE EMPLOYED THERE: 

SIOUX CITY IS ONE OF FOUR CENTERS BEING SHUT DOWN BY THE AIRLINE, WITH OTHERS IN SEATTLE, TOKYO AND BANGKOK. THOSE ARE THE AIRLINE'S FOUR SMALLEST RESERVATION CENTERS.

DOUGHERTY SAYS THE AIRLINE'S DECISION IS UNRELATED TO THE CITY CHANGING AIR SERVICE FROM DELTA TO AMERICAN EAGLE.

DELTA HAS FIVE YEARS REMAINING ON IT'S LEASE OF THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE FORMER J.C. PENNY'S BUILDING, AND IS OBLIGATED TO PAY TAXES AND LEASE PAYMENTS THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2017.