"Ithaca Airport Seeks Re-Regulation"

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Ithaca Airport Seeks Re-Regulation
Airline Financial News


"Ultimately, I believe the government must seriously look at some kind of
partial re-regulation of the airline industry to protect air service to
small communities," said Robert A. Nicholas, manager of Ithaca (NY) Tompkins
Regional Airport. "It seems to me that de-regulation has been a tremendous
benefit to large population areas but has worked in reverse for small
communities. 

"The critical mass that justifies service to small communities eventually
does not warrant the kind of service being provided. This is very well
illustrated at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport by the drop in
passengers, followed by the drop in airline operations, followed by a
further drop in passengers, and so on.

"The costs of running an airport remain fairly constant so as scheduled
airline operations drop and the size of aircraft decreases airport rates and
charges per passenger are going through the roof. In tough times this
becomes yet another reason for airlines to withdraw service from small
communities."


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