DALLAS – As flying becomes more expensive, travelers also have fewer flights to choose from since airlines have been cutting or canceling services to dozens of smaller cities.

For example, Wichita Falls is about to lose more than half its daily flights. American Eagle, the city’s only carrier, will slash its schedule this fall from seven flights a day to three.

"I would say the airport directors are really concerned about their jobs right now because I really think the days of flying you everywhere are over,” said Tom Parsons, owner of Bestfares.com.

The problem is worse nationwide. At least 97 small airports have either lost passenger service, or will by November, according to the Air Transport Association, which represents the nation’s airlines. That number means one in six commercial airports in the country will soon be without regularly scheduled airline service.

"Carriers are going to do what they need to do as painful as that might be to survive,” explained David Castelveter, ATA spokesman. “And they're doing it now. Short of some miraculous reduction in the fuel prices, the number of communities is going to grow."

The ATA said this number of schedule cutbacks in smaller cities is unprecedented.

With not end in sight, cuts are deeper now than immediately after 9-11, Castelveter said.

In addition to Wichita Falls, American Eagle said it's cutting Longview from three airplanes a day to two. Tyler will fall from five daily flights to three. Waco will be reduced from six to four.

But American Eagle said it will fly larger planes on some remaining flights that are able to carry more passengers. Fewer trips mean less gas.

Still, experts predict small towns might never again see the service airlines used to provide.

"I think that's over,” said David Norton, a Dallas aviation attorney. “I don't really ever see that coming back, not in the current form that we've had it. There might be some changed system, but not like it used to be."

Right now, no Texas town has lost passenger service altogether.

But unless fuel prices fall, experts expect places like Wichita Falls are vulnerable to lose what few flights remain.

E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com