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.
 

SIOUX CITY POLICE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN SOLVING A SERIES OF THEFTS INVOLVING PARKING METERS.

POLICE SAY AROUND 20 METERS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED SINCE APRIL SECOND, WITH COINS STOLEN FROM THEM.

THE METERS HAVE BEEN SNAPPED OFF AT THE BASE AND TAKEN TO OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE THE COINS WERE REMOVED.
  

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT POLICE AT 279-6365 OR THE CRIMESTOPPERS HOTLINE 258-TIPS OR THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.

MONDAY'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAPLETON TORNADO REMINDS US THAT IT IS SEVERE WEATHER SEASON IN THE TRI STATE AREA.

EARLY WARNING OF THAT STORM HELPED SAVE LIVES AND RESULTED IN ONLY MINOR INJURIES.

TO HELP WITH FUTURE STORMS, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS OFFERING SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTER TRAINING THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT WESTERN IOWA TECH. STEVE WARNSTADT IS THE TRAINING COORDINATOR AT W-I-T:

WARNSTADT SAYS THE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINED IN STORM SPOTTING, THE SAFER EVERY COMMUNITY WILL BE:

SEATING IS LIMITED FOR THE TRAINING AT WESTERN IOWA TECH'S CARGILL AUDITORIUM.  CHECK IN IS AT 6:30PM THURSDAY AND TRAINING FROM 7PM UNTIL 9PM. USE PARKING LOT 4 AND DOOR 14 TO ENTER THE BUILDING.
 

Delta Air Lines announced the closure of four reservations centers worldwide today, including the Downtown Sioux City facility, as part of a corporate restructuring. The facilities being closed are Delta’s smallest reservation centers. The Delta Reservations Center in Sioux City has consistently been recognized as the highest performing among their 17 reservations centers around the world. Operations at the Sioux City reservations center will cease operations August 31.

“We regret Delta’s decision to close the highly successful Sioux City facility,” said Mayor Bob Scott. “We are working with another firm looking to utilize our talented workforce to retain employees from the #1 performing office in the world. Delta will be held responsible for all obligations pertaining to the downtown location.”

Delta employees will have the opportunity to transfer to another reservations center (Dallas or Salt Lake City), offered a severance package, or may be hired by another nationally recognized firm interested in our top producing employees and the current reservations center. Delta is obligated to pay taxes and lease payments through November 2017.

Delta’s decision to close the Sioux City Reservations Center was unrelated to the recent change in air service at the Sioux Gateway Airport. Delta initiated a request for Federal Essential Air Service (EAS) with the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) in July 2011. Public input was requested in late September with a decision made by the Federal DOT in December to award the EAS to American Airlines. 

Background:

Northwest Airlines opened a new corporate reservations center in downtown Sioux City in October 2007 renovating 32,000 square feet on the second floor of the former JC Penney’s building.  Delta Air Lines acquired Northwest Airlines in 2008 to form the world’s largest airline carrier. 

For additional information, contact the Delta corporate communications office at (404)715-2554.