"Vermont Airport Plans For Possible U.S. Airways Replacement"

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Airport Plans For Possible U.S. Airways Replacement
Fate Of U.S. Airways Looks Grim After 2 Bankruptcies
WPTZ-TV Ch 5 (NBC), Plattsburgh (NY)


BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Wednesday is one of the busiest travel days of the year
and U.S. Airways is the biggest airline at Burlington International Airport.

While business is good at the airport, the company has filed for bankruptcy
twice and could go completely under by next year.

The airline operates some of the airport's most popular and important routes
-- including flights to LaGuardia in New York and Reagan National in
Washington, D.C. 

The airport is making plans to find a possible replacement.

"If U.S. Air were to liquidate, we'd have another airline here, like, the
next day," said J.J. Hamilton, airport manager.

Officials at Burlington International now say they are confident a major
carrier would come in and replace U.S. Airways if the airline shut down.

"When U.S. Air filed for bankruptcy the second time, I went to Northwest and
Delta and talked with them just so they were aware of the opportunities here
at Burlington," Hamilton said. "The root system U.S. Airlines has and the
destinations it has out of here are prime targets for an airline."

As for the airport's third major expansion, it's almost halfway through and
will be completely done by next Thanksgiving.

Whatever happens, the fate of U.S. Airways is not expected to have an impact
on the project.


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