When American Airlines suspended service from the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport last October, and said it would be a one month suspension, some were worried that the airline might never return that service. Those fears rose when one month turned into three. This week, however, the airline did, in fact, return to limited service there with one daily flight which began on Tuesday.
For three months, from October to December, American Airlines had halted service to Kalamazoo and Battle Creek as well as 14 other small to mid-sized markets across the country due to dwindling demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Their original plan had been to return on November 3rd, however what turned into a 90-day hiatus ended Tuesday when the airline resumed a single daily flight to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Craig Williams, who serves as Airport Director for Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International issued a brief statement saying, “We welcome American’s return to Kalamazoo and the access they provide to their extensive network of domestic and international destinations. Throughout the pandemic, American assured the airport of their commitment to Southwest Michigan and their return confirms that commitment.”
Throughout that same time period, American maintained operations out of South Bend International Airport and the Gerald R. Ford International airfield at Grand Rapids.
Any expansion of flight schedules by American Airlines at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International will depend on how frequently the existing schedule is used and how much demand is demonstrated by the flying public going forward.
The photo of American Airlines baggage handlers at planeside accompanying this story on Moody on the Market is courtesy of American Airlines.
