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Delta, we hardly knew ye!

Delta Air Line's brief flirtation with Yakima ended before we ever really seemed to reach the altar, much less the honeymoon. It was a shaky relationship from the start and the community has every right to feel jilted -- we never did get what Delta bargained for, even after posting a substantial dowry.

Soaring fuel prices are listed as the primary reason for the decision to end service as of Aug. 31. Certainly, that's understandable in an industry that has seen a doubling of jet fuel costs in the past year. We can't blame the company for a decision that focuses on cutting costs rather than expanded service.

But Delta's case begins to weaken in that regard when one realizes the company will still serve the Tri-Cities, though, granted, it has had a longer, much more established presence there.

We're having trouble shaking this feeling that we've been jerked around by a company that came in with an ill-defined program that has been constantly changing.

Local officials and the business community invested more than two years and a considerable incentive package to lure Delta to the Yakima airport. About 80 businesses and organizations raised more than $445,000 in prepaid airline tickets and $150,000 for advertising to entice the carrier to serve Yakima.

And for what? Even after it finally committed to local service, the program seemed half-hearted and at best a work in regress.

The record speaks for itself since Delta began with two daily flights in and out of Yakima in June 2007:

* In February, the airline announced new twice-daily service from Yakima to its hub in Salt Lake City. A day later, it announced it would stop the planned morning flight in August because the airline considered it a seasonal flight.

* The morning flight remained, but the afternoon flight was "flexible." Since beginning service a year ago, Delta has pulled that flight twice, citing a lack of passenger demand and fuel costs. It reinstated the afternoon flight again July 7, but announced plans to pull it Aug. 18.

So, while the economics of the decision to pull out of Yakima are understandable, the unpredictably short, wobbly commitment is not.

Still, a bright spot remains. You want reliability and dependability in Yakima air service? Look to Horizon Air, which in 2006 celebrated its silver anniversary here -- 25 years of service to the local airport.

At least Horizon will still be around and air service connections are still available. We take this opportunity to once again salute this valuable member of our community.

As for Delta? We expected better.

In the meantime, we commend all those who labored hard to bring the carrier here, especially those who put their money where their commitment was. It was quite a demonstration of community resolve.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins, Bill Lee and Karen Troianello.