Delta Airlines pulled the plug on its hub at Memphis International Airport Tuesday, affecting 29 non-stop flights and 200 people who are now out of work.
“Most of the people affected there were Delta ground services folks,” said Laura Hine, the deputy director of business services at the city’s Workforce Investment Network.
Out of the 230 people who lost their job, around 50 were full-time. The rest worked 20 hours a week.
Hine said she’s helping the former Delta employees find new opportunities.
“We can provide them training and tuition reimbursement. As well as connect them with any job postings we are working on,” Hine said.
Many of Delta’s check-in counters are empty, and little is listed on the departure board.
The airline is down to about 60 flights a day.
Before Delta merged with Northwest, the two airlines offered four times that.
Airport Authority President Larry Cox says there is a silver lining, because new jobs will open up when new airlines move in.
Southwest is set to open in November with nine flights a day.
Cox said he is working to recruit others.
“We are looking at Allegiant Air. We are looking at Spirit and at Frontier,” Cox said.
Cox said he will be making some exciting announcements very soon.
To find more information on the Workforce Investment Network and job opportunities, head to their website: http://www.workforceinvestmentnetwork.com/
