"Carrier departs Hanscom Field"

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Carrier departs Hanscom
By Greg Gatlin
The Boston (MA) Herald


Shuttle America's bumpy run at Hanscom Field in Bedford appears to be
grounded for good as the regional carrier said yesterday that it had
scrapped its Hanscom-to-Trenton, N.J., route. 
 
Shuttle America, a US Airways Express affiliate, said it opted to end its
only route out of Hanscom yesterday because of mounting competition, a weak
market, higher fuel costs and to redeploy planes to healthier markets. 
 
The carrier's status at the Route 128 airfield had been in doubt since
February, when it said it would halt Hanscom operations April 30. Later,
citing ``overwhelming consumer response,'' Shuttle America said Hanscom
flights would go on past April 30. 
 
But area airline opponents say Shuttle America flights have averaged just 10
or 12 passengers each. 
 
``Shuttle America has been losing money here for years, and we frankly don't
understand why they reversed their previous decision to leave,'' said Anna
Winter, a leading foe of airlines at Hanscom.


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