Low-Fare Airline Decides against Service to Roanoke, Va., Airport

Posted on Thu, Mar. 25, 2004 

Low-Fare Airline Decides against Service to Roanoke,
Va., Airport

By Duncan Adams, The Roanoke Times, Va. Knight
Ridder/Tribune Business News


Mar. 25 - Roanoke failed to make the first cut for
low-fare carrier Independence Air, but an airport
official said conversations will continue with the
nascent airline.

Jacque Shuck, executive director for the Roanoke
Regional Airport Commission, said she heard late last
week from Atlantic Coast Airlines/Independence Air
that Roanoke had dropped off the list of cities
Independence Air initially hopes to serve.

"But they called me and said, 'Don't give up,'" Shuck
said, noting that Independence Air said "maybe next
year."

Rick DeLisi is a spokesman for Atlantic Coast Airlines
and its emerging low-fare carrier Independence Air.
DeLisi confirmed Wednesday that Independence Air
officials "are not expecting Roanoke to be one of the
transition cities for service this summer." He would
not say why Roanoke didn't make the cut.

DeLisi said Independence Air will not announce which
cities it intends to serve until after resolution of
how Atlantic Coast Airlines will shed its service
contract with United Airlines.

Last year, Atlantic Coast Airlines was stacked up by
United Airlines' Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and
unhappy about United's proposal for a renewed
contract. In July, ACA announced plans to establish a
new, independent low-fare airline based at Washington
Dulles International Airport. In November, it said the
new carrier would be known as Independence Air.

Regional economic development officials, politicians,
and academic leaders -- believing existing air service
inhibits growth -- have been working to lure a
low-fare carrier to Roanoke Regional Airport.

Beth Doughty, president of the Roanoke Regional
Chamber of Commerce, said she is disappointed by
Independence Air's decision but remains hopeful
Independence, AirTran, or another low-fare carrier
eventually will serve Roanoke.

"The bad news is that we didn't make the cut and ACA
will be leaving the market," Doughty said. "The good
news is that ACA has still been very encouraging to
Jacque and interested about this market. We have a
relationship, and we are going to continue to nurture
that relationship."

Beginning Thursday, United Express/SkyWest Airlines
will take over ground operations at Roanoke Regional
Airport from United Express/Atlantic Coast Airlines,
which offers air service between Roanoke and
Washington Dulles.

Amanda DeHaven, a spokeswoman for Roanoke Regional
Airport, said the transition will not affect flights
or passengers.

"Nobody is going to notice any changes except
different people, maybe, handling tickets," DeHaven
said.

DeLisi said Atlantic Coast has 20 employees in
Roanoke.

"None will be laid off, since all have been invited to
remain with the company -- if they are willing to
accept new geographic assignments, and some will,"
DeLisi said Wednesday. "Some have chosen to work for
SkyWest."

DeLisi said the transition, which could create
competition between SkyWest and Independence Air for
flights from Roanoke to Washington Dulles, will not
affect whether Independence Air ultimately decides to
include Roanoke on its routes.

"All decisions about where Independence Air will fly
are being made independently," he said, of existing
air service.

Meanwhile, Doughty said regional officials remain in
touch with AirTran Airways.

"We have expressed interest and made our case and they
have been receptive," Doughty said. "They didn't say
'no' and they didn't say 'yes' with a date."

Shuck said she believes the Roanoke region's
population was "right on the edge" of what
Independence Air wanted. She said it is difficult to
document how many residents of the Roanoke and New
River valleys drive now to airports elsewhere and
might be enthusiastic customers if a low-fare carrier
came to Roanoke.

She said she actively pursued Independence Air and
responded to their call last week by "trying to talk
them out of the decision they'd made, to see if there
was anything more we could do to change their mind."

DeLisi said Roanoke might someday be in the running
again.

"We have expansion plans that go well beyond this year
and we wouldn't want to rule anything out, especially
among those cities where we have already had
conversations," he said.

 

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