"Airport EAS contract attracts 3 carriers"

Saturday, March 10, 2007 

Airport contract attracts 3 carriers 
By Doug Wilson 
The Quincy (IL) Herald-Whig
 

Three airlines, including the embattled RegionsAir, are vying for a two-year
contract to serve Quincy Regional Airport with flights subsidized through a
federal program. 

RegionsAir announced Thursday that it has grounded its planes indefinitely
due to concerns by the Federal Aviation Administration. One FAA official
said Friday that it could take as long as 120 days for the airline to
address concerns about pilot training. 

The Associated Press reported Friday that the suspension will run through
March 31. 

Still, RegionsAir has the lowest bid of three airlines seeking an Essential
Air Service contract in Quincy. 

RegionsAir is seeking slightly more than $1 million for 24 nonstop round
trips to St. Louis each week. Great Lakes Aviation wants an average of $1.5
million a year for a similar 24-flight schedule. 

Mesa Airlines offered different options with plans that call for 24 weekly
round-trip flights between Quincy and Kansas City, ranging in price from
nearly $1.2 million to more than $1.3 million, depending on whether half or
three-quarters of the flights are nonstop, with the remainder stopping in
Kirksville. 

Quincy Mayor John Spring said his own preference would be Great Lakes
Aviation, both because it would connect with St. Louis and because
RegionsAir has "lost credibility" with local travelers. 

"What I've been told is that (Great Lakes has) got a very good operation.
This would be a godsend for us," Spring said. 

Mesa Airlines has offered good service to Kansas City and Chicago during the
past month, but St. Louis air service is crucial for the community, Spring
said. 

Doug Caldwell, the president and CEO of RegionsAir, was unable to answer
questions from a reporter as he prepared to enter a meeting Friday
afternoon. Caldwell previously said he hoped RegionsAir could win the
contract to serve Quincy during the next two years. 

Caldwell realizes that poor reliability during the past nine months might
make the city skeptical of RegionsAir's ability to perform. 

"I realize I'm biased, but we've been in (Quincy and other Illinois markets)
since 2000, and during most of that time, you could set your watch by us,"
Caldwell said recently. 

He blamed frequent cancellations on financial setbacks brought on by higher
fuel costs and a rash of damaged aircraft. 

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said RegionsAir cannot be trusted. Durbin wrote
letters to that effect to federal and airline officials last month. After
Friday's announcement that RegionsAir has grounded its fleet for the second
time in a week, Durbin said his worst fears have been confirmed. 

"RegionsAir cannot provide even the most basic air service, let alone the
reliable service our downstate communities deserve," he said. 

Flights on RegionsAir also have been suspended in the Illinois cities of
Springfield, Decatur and Marion. A news release from the airline said
nonessential staff has been laid off while the flights are grounded. 

Les Dorr, a spokesman for the FAA, said RegionsAir has "agreed to stand
down" while the airline sorts through concerns over the training and
oversight offered to pilots. 

Similar concerns led to suspension of flights last Saturday and most of
Sunday. Caldwell said Monday that FAA concerns were addressed and flights
could continue. But flights were suspended again Thursday evening due to the
same issues. 

"We're probably talking about flights being (halted) for a period of 120
days as specified in the agreement," Dorr said. "However, if they show that
they're ready to get back in the air, we could be talking about 30 days or
it could be 60 or it could be 120." 

RegionsAir officials hope planes are operating well before then. 

"We are going to continue our dialogue with the FAA and resolve the issues
brought forward," said Nathan Vallier, director of sales and marketing for
RegionsAir. 

Dorr confirmed that pilot training through the line check airmen program is
the major issue concerning the FAA. He did not give details about any other
issues. 

Spring said he hopes that if RegionsAir is not able to conduct flights for
up to four months, the U.S. Department of Transportation will take action to
speed the process and restore flights to Quincy. 

The department will be in charge of awarding a new EAS flight contract.
Durbin has urged the federal agency to give preference to airlines other
than RegionsAir. 

Smyrna, Tenn.-based Regions Air, which operates in Illinois as American
Connection, was helping passengers reach their destination through ground
transportation or on other airlines, Vallier said. 

American Airlines will rebook, without penalty, passengers whose flights
have been canceled or offer full refunds on travel affected by the
cancellations, American said in a statement.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************