WhateverUwant
Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2006
- Posts
- 20
Quincy wants a new airline
The Mayor of Quincy wants RegionsAir replaced due to low reliability...
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Mayor John Spring says RegionsAir continues to have trouble providing all of its scheduled daily flights between Quincy and St. Louis, and he's hoping federal officials will help Quincy find a new essential air service carrier.
Spring talked about the situation during a telephone interview while he was in Washington, D.C., attending the 75th winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Spring, who returned home Saturday after five days at the conference, said he spent some time in Washington meeting with Sen. Dick Durbin, some of Durbin's staff and several transportation officials to discuss key issues facing Quincy, including RegionsAir's poor performance.
"They've gotten quite a bit better since a month ago. But they're still experiencing some difficulties with not having all four flights," Spring said. "They are better, but it's still not good enough."
The unreliable service is hurting Quincy because travelers are less inclined to use the Quincy airport if they can't be assured their flights will arrive and depart as scheduled. Ultimately, this can result in Quincy having fewer than the 10,000-minimum boardings the airport needs to keep receiving vital federal funding.
Spring is frustrated by the poor service and wants to see some improvement from RegionsAir.
"They're under an essential air service agreement," he said. "They received $1 million to help operate this, and they're not getting the job done. So I want to see us get a different carrier. That's what I'm fighting for, and that's what I'm talking about to these folks out here."
Spring said he received confirmation last week that RegionsAir is now for sale. "It is official now. They are looking for someone to buy their company," he said.
Spring said Durbin's staff assured him they will contact the U.S Department of Transportation on Quincy's behalf to seek improvements in service. Spring also had an opportunity to meet with a vice president of American Airlines to discuss future possibilities for Quincy.
Spring said RegionsAir's contract to provide essential air service to Quincy and several other communities will expire soon.
"Hopefully we'll get a stronger company to bid on that service and provide what we need," he said.
Mesa Airlines is scheduled to start serving Quincy on Thursday, providing links with Chicago's Midway Airport and Kansas City. Spring feels it's important to have a reliable link to St. Louis to complement Mesa's service.
"I'm elated that Sen. Durbin and his staff and American Airlines folks are going to work with us and maybe get this done," Spring said. "I'm hoping it will be a short timeline on that."
During the mayors conference, Spring attended a session focusing on transportation and communications issues. One speaker there was U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, a congressmen from Minnesota widely regarded as "the father of essential air service."
Spring said Oberstar touted the importance of providing air service to smaller communities. Several other speakers also spoke passionately about the same thing.
"They see a bright future for essential air service continuing," Spring said. "That sends a clear message that communities like Quincy need to have that tool to work with — not just for the business community but for their regular, everyday citizens for tourism and visitors."
The Mayor of Quincy wants RegionsAir replaced due to low reliability...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor John Spring says RegionsAir continues to have trouble providing all of its scheduled daily flights between Quincy and St. Louis, and he's hoping federal officials will help Quincy find a new essential air service carrier.
Spring talked about the situation during a telephone interview while he was in Washington, D.C., attending the 75th winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Spring, who returned home Saturday after five days at the conference, said he spent some time in Washington meeting with Sen. Dick Durbin, some of Durbin's staff and several transportation officials to discuss key issues facing Quincy, including RegionsAir's poor performance.
"They've gotten quite a bit better since a month ago. But they're still experiencing some difficulties with not having all four flights," Spring said. "They are better, but it's still not good enough."
The unreliable service is hurting Quincy because travelers are less inclined to use the Quincy airport if they can't be assured their flights will arrive and depart as scheduled. Ultimately, this can result in Quincy having fewer than the 10,000-minimum boardings the airport needs to keep receiving vital federal funding.
Spring is frustrated by the poor service and wants to see some improvement from RegionsAir.
"They're under an essential air service agreement," he said. "They received $1 million to help operate this, and they're not getting the job done. So I want to see us get a different carrier. That's what I'm fighting for, and that's what I'm talking about to these folks out here."
Spring said he received confirmation last week that RegionsAir is now for sale. "It is official now. They are looking for someone to buy their company," he said.
Spring said Durbin's staff assured him they will contact the U.S Department of Transportation on Quincy's behalf to seek improvements in service. Spring also had an opportunity to meet with a vice president of American Airlines to discuss future possibilities for Quincy.
Spring said RegionsAir's contract to provide essential air service to Quincy and several other communities will expire soon.
"Hopefully we'll get a stronger company to bid on that service and provide what we need," he said.
Mesa Airlines is scheduled to start serving Quincy on Thursday, providing links with Chicago's Midway Airport and Kansas City. Spring feels it's important to have a reliable link to St. Louis to complement Mesa's service.
"I'm elated that Sen. Durbin and his staff and American Airlines folks are going to work with us and maybe get this done," Spring said. "I'm hoping it will be a short timeline on that."
During the mayors conference, Spring attended a session focusing on transportation and communications issues. One speaker there was U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, a congressmen from Minnesota widely regarded as "the father of essential air service."
Spring said Oberstar touted the importance of providing air service to smaller communities. Several other speakers also spoke passionately about the same thing.
"They see a bright future for essential air service continuing," Spring said. "That sends a clear message that communities like Quincy need to have that tool to work with — not just for the business community but for their regular, everyday citizens for tourism and visitors."
