Continental Ends Service to Airport in Santa Barbara

Continental Airlines announced this week that it will discontinue flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport as of Feb. 1.

The move leaves three major airlines at the airport--American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines, a spokeswoman said.

Continental began flying from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport last spring and had two daily flights to Denver--at 9:15 a.m. and 2:55 p.m.--company spokesman Jim Brigance said.

Brigance said the amount of business did not meet the company’s expectations, but declined to release specific figures.

“We just feel like we can use the equipment more profitably someplace else,” he said.

Continental’s nine employees in Santa Barbara have been offered transfers, he said.