"St. Louis airport officials urge American to limit flight cuts"

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

Airport officials urge American to limit flight cuts
The Associated Press


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Officials from cities across Illinois urged American
Airlines to maintain as many flights as possible, despite the company's
plans for a major cutback at its St. Louis hub.

City officials and airport executives said Tuesday that losing flights will
harm their efforts to attract new businesses or keep old ones.

"Business people have to be where they can operate easily and efficiently,
and air service is a big part of that," said Julie Moore, president of the
Decatur Area Chamber of Commerce.

She and other officials met for nearly 90 minutes with Peter Bowler,
president of the company's American Eagle air service, in a meeting arranged
by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Bowler said the decision to cut the number of St. Louis departures by half
was difficult but necessary for the company to weather rough economic times.
American hopes the cuts help it strengthen its hubs in Chicago and Dallas,
he said.

But with a smaller operation in St. Louis, the Dallas-based company is
reducing service to the downstate cities linked to St. Louis by American
Eagle and American Connection. Some will have fewer flights to St. Louis.
Some will lose St. Louis service completely and instead have flights only to
Chicago.

Springfield, Ill., for instance, will lose seven St. Louis flights. Moline
will lose all eight but gain four flights to Chicago. Decatur, Marion and
Quincy won't see any changes, but Bowler warned that "more tough decisions"
lie ahead.

Local officials offered few suggestions on how American can avoid cuts,
although several promised to promote air travel and keep costs - such as the
fees airlines pay to airports - as low as possible.


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