"Lancaster, Pa. Airport Moves Closer to Return of Commercial Air Service"

Friday, June 13, 2003

Lancaster, Pa. Airport Moves Closer to Return of Commercial Air Service
The Lancaster (PA) New Era


Lancaster Airport scored yet another victory Thursday night in its effort to
have its commercial air service restored.

At the request of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, the Senate agreed in a voice vote
on an amendment that would make Lancaster eligible for federal funds
designed to subsidize commercial airline carriers.

The Senate vote comes a day after the House unanimously endorsed a separate
amendment, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts.

Unlike Specter's amendment, which only covers Lancaster Airport, Pitts'
House amendment covers other small airports across the country.

The legislation will go to a conference committee for a final version and
then to President Bush, who is expected to sign it, given its vast
bipartisan support in both Houses.

"This brings us closer to having service by the end of this year, possibly
sooner," said a jubilant Joyce Opp, the airport's director of finance and
marketing.

Both Opp and Marv Miller Jr., the airport authority's chairman, praised the
efforts of Pitts, Specter and local community leaders who have been
feverishly trying to restore service ever since Virginia-based Colgan Air
stopped operating here in March.

Last summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation rejected Lancaster
Airport's request for a $645,000 essential air service grant that would have
helped Colgan cover losses. The grant program was created in the 1970s to
help support small, fledgling airports.

Lancaster Airport officials never tapped into the funds, but were forced to
after the events of Sept. 11 and an overall downturn in the airline
industry.

In making its decision, the DOT cited the Manheim Township airport's
proximity to Philadelphia International Airport. The department said
airports within 70 miles of a major hub airport are not eligible for the
grant.

But Pitts, Specter and local airport officials said the route the department
used was impractical.

The DOT mapped out a three-hour, 68-mile journey to the Philadelphia Airport
on Route 30.

But lawmakers and airport officials said most people do not use the
traffic-clogged route.

Airport officials and lawmakers said most people drive the 80 miles on Route
222 and the turnpike, a trip that takes about half as much time as the Route
30 trek.

"We should not have been denied in the first place," Miller said.


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