By Staff Report Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

American Airlines and Delta announced this week that they are cutting all flights from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. American will also close a maintenance base there for its American Eagle operation.

American Eagle currently operates four daily departures from the airport. The move will eliminiate about 100 jobs as the nation’s largest air carrier moves to curb capacity by more than 10 percent in the face of soaring fuel prices and a weakening economy.

Delta came to the airport more than a year ago to offer two daily flights to Salt Lake City, Utah. It eventually cut back to one daily flight and is expected to pull out of the airport by Sept. 1 altogether.

American Airlines said Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and LaGuardia Airport in New York all will face significant cuts in main line and commuter flights.

Once the two airlines leave, San Luis Obispo will only offer flights from United Express and U.S. Airways commuter aircraft in addition to American Eagle.

In the Tri-Counties American Eagle also serves Santa Barbara’s Municipal Airport, which was not affected by the cutbacks.