Maybe Colgan?

[Prop2Jet]

Any thoughts? (On this issue)

Airports reach deal with airline
by ashley wiehle, the southern


MARION - A trio of airports hoping to shorten the distance to Chicago has reached a contract with an airline that will provide service to The Windy City.

Williamson County Regional Airport Manager Doug Kimmel on Tuesday said he and fellow managers in Decatur and Quincy presented a contract to the state on Friday in the hopes of bringing service to the region as quickly as possible.

Airport officials at this time are remaining mum on which airline has been tapped, Kimmel said, having twice been burned on naming an airline that later proved unable to provide the service.

"We have worked out a contract with an airline," Kimmel said. "Once the state has reviewed it and assuming they approve it, we'll be ready for an announcement ourselves."

Williamson County Regional Airport began talks with an airline in January with the intention to bring Chicago service to the area by the end of the year.

That time frame has not yet fallen by the wayside, Kimmel said.

"We'll still hopefully get service ready by the end of the year," Kimmel said.

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

No I heard it is British Airways

 

[Prop2Jet]

Herald-Whig Senior Writer
State Sen. John Sullivan says Quincy Regional Airport could have daily flights to Chicago's Midway Airport starting in January.
Airport Manager Mark Hanna could not release the name of the airline until the Illinois Department of Transportation agrees to the proposal that will provide nonstop Chicago flights not only for Quincy, but for Marion and Decatur.
Sullivan, a Democrat from Rushville, was one of several downstate senators who pushed through a $1.65 million line item in the state budget to cover air service for the three airports. On Wednesday, he was recognizing the hard work of airport managers and several airlines that wanted to provide the service.
"They worked very hard on that. It's going to be a great thing for the community to have daily flights to Chicago," Sullivan said.
Quincy lost commuter air service to Chicago in January 2003, while airlines were still suffering from the disruptions caused by the terrorist hijackings of Sept. 11, 2001.
Those earlier flights went to O'Hare International Airport, but when downstate communities tried to re-establish flights, the tight schedule and high cost of airline slots at O'Hare became an obstacle. Midway Airport became the favored alternative because it is close to downtown Chicago and has inexpensive public transportation options.
Hanna and other airport managers have been trying to find an airline to provide the flights since early this year. One airline that was interested early in the process was unable to come up with aircraft on a timely basis.
Airport managers had hoped to get flights started this fall, but eventually abandoned that plan after hearing about and industrywide shortage of equipment.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Decatur, Quincy and Marion Illinois are the airports being considered for MDW.

 

[Prop2Jet]

*Essential Air Service, Nationwide: $117 million, which is $67 million above the President’s Budget and $7 million above FY 06 funding. This will ensure that Decatur, Marion, and Quincy will continue to receive EAS subsidies of roughly $1 million per year.

 

[Prop2Jet]

boy they are all tight-lipped on this issue, no one will say a word!

 

[Prop2Jet]

did some ground work. Talked to an Illinois Aviaiton IDOT dispatacher. They said the carrier will be MESA AIR. I always know I can find the info!

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

not colgan but.......... Uh oh they cancelled upgrades for Nov

 

[Godfather]

Oh I can see the phone calls from Screw Scheduling now on our reserve days...."We need you to come to Manassas to ferry a plane to ORD to do EAS runs for the next 3 days. Then ferry the plane to IAH then ferry another plane to CLE then take another plane".....great.....

G Dub...keep my girlie smiling while I'm away....she says "Dee Dow, G Dub is my new daddy!" How bout it!

 

[Prop2Jet]

Certo!