"Williams Gateway Airport asking which flights residents want"

Monday, April 18, 2005

Airport asking which flights residents want 
By Lisa Nicita
The Arizona Republic


MESA - Officials at Williams Gateway Airport are courting commercial
flights, and they're asking for help from the community. 

Gateway officials are trying to find out if residents want commercial
service from the airport and, if they want it, where they want to travel.

The airport already has about 1,000 responses from surveys distributed by
the airport at a recent open house and other community events, said airport
marketing and development representative John Barry. He'd like to get at
least 10,000 responses. Residents can go online at www.flywga.org to fill
out a survey.  

"It gives us a little bit of leverage and a lot of firsthand information
from the community on where people would like service to," Barry said. 

Based on preliminary findings, Las Vegas is the most popular destination,
Barry said. Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego and Denver round out the top
five. 

During an industry meeting in March, Barry and other Williams Gateway
officials spoke with several airlines that had interest in the airport,
including Southwest, Delta, JetBlue and Spirit. Barry said Spirit, currently
a regional carrier specializing in East Coast travel, and scheduled charter
carriers Transmeridian and Allegiant were the most receptive to the prospect
of commercial flight at Williams Gateway. 

Barry said he is "very confident" Williams Gateway Airport will have
commercial flights when the timing is right for the airlines. 

"It would sure alleviate some of the congestion going to Sky Harbor," Barry
said.


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