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Airport News, "Worcester Airport will get round-trip flights to Atlanta"
Thursday, October 21, 1999
Worcester Airport will get round-trip flights to Atlanta
by Laura Brown
The Boston Globe
Delta Airlines has agreed to operate two round-trip flights per day between
Worcester Airport and Atlanta, as part of a push by state officials to boost
commercial jet service at Worcester.
Community groups fighting a proposed new runway at Logan Airport have
criticized the Cellucci administration for not doing more to increase
passenger service at regional airports as an alternative to growth at Logan.
Yesterday, Gov. Paul Cellucci and Massachusetts Port Authority Executive
Director Virginia Buckingham said the new Delta service proves they are
serious about reviving Worcester Airport.
``We are committed to a comprehensive regional transportation plan, and a
key piece in that strategy is a thriving Worcester Airport,'' Cellucci said.
Buckingham added that direct service to Atlanta - where travelers can make
connections to 125 other airports around the world - will help ``spread the
burden'' of regional air traffic.
``(The governor) has delivered on a legitimate and real regionalization
strategy,'' Buckingham said.
Kay Gibbs, a spokeswoman for Communities Against Runway Expansion, said
Logan-area activists are pleased to see regional air service growing, but
believe other airports outside Boston can accommodate much more traffic.
``Anything that increases the use of regional alternatives to Logan, we're
in favor of,'' she said. ``We think the regional airports are
underutilized.''
Delta President Leo Mullin said airline officials believe the Worcester-area
market offers ``significant potential'' and the new service will expand
Delta's presence in New England.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a Delta subsidiary, will operate one morning
and one late afternoon flight from Boston to Atlanta, and a noontime and
early evening flight from Atlanta to Boston, said spokesman Steve Forsyth.
The airline will use 50-seat Canadair regional jets.
USAirways Express currently runs the only other commercial service out of
Worcester with four daily round-trips to Philadelphia.
In addition to wooing Delta, Massport officials also have hammered out a
final operating agreement with the City of Worcester, to take over Worcester
Airport over the next five years, Cellucci said.
Worcester Mayor Ray Mariano called the Delta service ``an outstanding
announcement'' for the community and said Massport's involvement with the
airport should be a positive development.
Mariano said he is not convinced a new airport access road proposed by state
officials is necessary, and that enhancements to existing roads may meet the
airport's needs without hurting the local community. Area groups have
opposed state plans that would require taking homes.
``We feel this will be worked out to everybody's best interest,'' said
Cellucci spokesman Jason Kauppi.
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