Nonstop Service to D.C. May Be in Asheville Airport's Future

January 12, 2004

Nonstop Service to D.C. May Be in Asheville Airport's
Future
Asheville Citizen Times, NC

ASHEVILLE - It's more than a capital development -
"it's tremendous," said Asheville Regional Airport's
Susan Phillips about the announcement that US Airways
is seeking to provide nonstop air service between
Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport and
Asheville.

The carrier filed an application Friday with the U.S.
Department of Transportation requesting permission to
establish two daily roundtrip flights between the
cities using 50-seat regional jets.

"It's the best news I have heard in a long time," said
Michael McLeod, a Washington, D.C., attorney and
Asheville business owner who commutes on a weekly
basis between his law practice in the nation's capital
and family in Asheville.

Phillips, the airport's marketing and public relations
director, said the DOT's decision could take from 60
to 120 days, and it could be another 30 to 60 days
before service might begin.

"I'm very optimistic," said David Young, Buncombe
County commissioner and Airport Authority chairman,
about the carrier's chances of being awarded the
requisite take-off and landing "slots" at the D.C.
airport.

"US Airways wouldn't put it out there if it didn't
think we had a shot at getting these flights, and I
think we have a great shot," he said. "We'll do
everything we can in so far as talking to our senators
and congressmen to achieve the goal of getting the
slots. We'll ask for community letters to be written
in support of this."

US Airways said in a statement that its DOT
application highlights that Asheville "is a fast
growing community with North Carolina's lowest
unemployment rate and a rising health-care industry
presence."

Washington's Reagan National Airport and New York's
LaGuardia Airport - where nonstop service from
Asheville on US Airways is scheduled to begin Feb. 8 -
are the two U.S. airports where the DOT controls
flight slots, confirmed US Airways spokesperson Amy
Kudwa.

Young said it was too early to discuss whether the
airport would provide any financial assistance to help
the airline launch the new service.

"There's been no discussion of any financial package,"
he said. "We have to get the slots open first."


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