GPZ gone?
 

So, trying to book a flight to GPZ (Grand Rapids, MINNESOTA) this summer and all flights, all summer show zero seats avail. Me thinks Mesaba may be shutting down GPZ.. anyone know anything? Given this is where XJ started out, its really too bad if its true....

Twice daily service discontinued as of 3/1:
http://www.kdlh.com/home/headlines/584952.html

Another article (lost the link) cited load factors less than 30% for 2003.

Let's make one thing clear... this is completely the work of NWA. Mesaba is basically at the mercy of NWA when it comes to schedules, cities served and anything else that appears as an nwa product. A NWA spokesperson was in GPZ a few days ago at a rally/hearing to discuss the impact of pulling out of GPZ. NWA is studying the matter...

It's a shame though, since GPZ was the birthplace of XJ some 60 years ago. Gordon Newstrom still lives there and a recently retired XJ captains son, is the airport manager. GPZ has XJ running though its veins. But it's a business and businesses can't continue unprofitable markets for the sake of legacy or history.

AZJ

This article has some more details and states that only 27.2 percent of GPZ seats were filled in 2003. It is unfortunate, but it looks like a sound business decision with loads that low.

I suspect that your next best choices would be BJI & HIB. BJI had 6 or 7 (?) daily flights during the summer of 2003, but is a little over an hour drive from GPZ.