Delta bumps ticketed passengers to get basketball team to game

ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

A plane takes off over a departure board at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, in Atlanta. Delta Airlines brought the University of Florida basketball team to Atlanta on Nov. 30 — one of the busiest travel days of the year — by bumping ticketed passengers on a commercial flight. The team had a problem with a charter flight. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier, left, and Ryan Boatright, right, react after Napier hits the game winning basket at the end an NCAA college basketball game against Florida, Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, in Storrs, Conn. Connecticut won 65-64. After a problem with the team’s charter flight, Delta Airlines took Florida players on a connecting flight to get them to the game, but they bumped ticketed passengers to do it. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On one of the busiest flying days of the year, Delta Air Lines canceled an Atlanta-bound commercial flight from Gainesville Regional Airport to accommodate the University of Florida men’s basketball team.

The Gainesville Sun reports the team’s charter plane was grounded Sunday afternoon by maintenance issues. The team was heading to Storrs, Conn., for a Monday night game against the University of Connecticut.

A Delta spokesman told the newspaper passengers on Delta Connection flight 5059 were either placed on other flights or given vouchers valid for use on future trips.

Team spokesman Denver Parler told the Sun he wasn’t aware passengers were displaced. He said about 35 people affiliated with the team were on the 50-seat plane.