January 30, 2017 / Modified jan 30, 2017 3:11 p.m.

Tucson to NYC Flight Will Stop in May, Resume in December

Passenger load not as strong as needed for nonstop flight.

Tucson International Airport SPOT Tucson International Airport.
Tucson International Airport

Tucson's only nonstop flight to New York City will be suspended in May because the passenger loads have been lower than anticipated, airport officials confirmed Monday.

The American Airlines flight, to New York's JFK International Airport with a morning departure and an evening return, began in October with a subsidy guarantee from the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber and American Airlines agreed to suspend the flight May 4 and resume it in mid-December to keep the subsidy fund from being depleted, airport officials said.

Passenger demand has grown, but at a slower pace than anticipated, officials said.

When announced, the flight was seen as an important part of Tucson's economic growth, giving the city more direct access to important East Coast business centers.

Tucson business and civic leaders often lament that many travelers make the drive or take a shuttle to Phoenix to take more convenient direct flights from Sky Harbor International Airport.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona