5 more EAS routes end in PIT

[Rob]

I know this is a very minor matter, but the EAS subsidized routes from PIT to BFD, JHW, PKB, MGW, and CKB are apparently ending sometime in May. It's only 12 flights and total traffic is just a little over 200 pax a day.

Is reducing the B1900 flights a deliberate plan or is it just Colgan's bad luck being undercut in the subsidy bids?

 

[AL-PS-PI-AW]

Of all those cities only Morgantown, I can see getting CLT service once PIT essential air service is gone.

 

[Paul]

DOT picks RegionsAir for BRA

Changes are coming to Bradford Regional Airport.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that RegionsAir of Tennessee will be servicing the airport under the auspices of Continental Airlines, and will change hub cities from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.

Local airport officials said they will make the changes work despite an original desire to have Washington as a hub city and to retain current carrier Colgan Air Inc. While no date has been set for the changeover, officials said they expect the transition will be seamless.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have Dulles (Washington), but we can understand the Department of Transportation's decision," Airport Advisory Committee Chairman Mike Glesk told The Era during a meeting with Airport Director Tom Frungillo and Rob Huber, a member of the Airport Advisory Committee. "Getting out of Pittsburgh isn't a bad thing. We got great service from Colgan, but we will now work with RegionsAir."

While not their first choice, the trio said the change does accomplish two primary goals - changing from Pittsburgh and US Airways.

"This could be a breath of fresh air to have a new carrier to work with," Huber said. "We believe there is potential with Cleveland, which has competitive fares."

The final decision by DOT eventually came down to money; the federal government would have had to pay a higher subsidy to Colgan to fly into Washington's Dulles International Airport under the federal Essential Air Service program.

In a report on its decision, the DOT indicated RegionsAir will operate the same 34-passenger aircraft, complete with steward and lavatory, that currently service Bradford Regional.

Numerous federal, state and local officials from both sides of the border - Bradford shares flights with nearby Jamestown, N.Y. - sent correspondence to the DOT over the past few months in an attempt to solidify their stance of changing hub cities to Washington and retaining Colgan as the airline servicing both facilities.

Officials said they preferred Washington due to its larger selection of international flights for business and leisure travelers.

"We would've preferred a different ruling from the Department of Transportation, but we view this decision as an opportunity to forge a new and mutually beneficial relationship with a carrier we hope can serve the short and long-term needs of the area," U.S. Rep. John Peterson's, R-Pa., Communications Director Chris Tucker said. "Cleveland offers travelers in the region another option for air travel, which should help all of our airports in the long run.

"We're hopeful that RegionsAir can become an important facilitator for, and central partner in, the community's ongoing economic expansion."

The Bradford Era

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Bring back Express to RDG! We are the fastest growing metro area in the state!

 

[ringmaruf]

I know this is a very minor matter, but the EAS subsidized routes from PIT to BFD, JHW, PKB, MGW, and CKB are apparently ending sometime in May. It's only 12 flights and total traffic is just a little over 200 pax a day.

Is reducing the B1900 flights a deliberate plan or is it just Colgan's bad luck being undercut in the subsidy bids?

Just bad luck getting undercut in the subsidy bids. RegionsAir (formerly Corporate Air) is picking up all 5 markets, allegedly under the Continental Connection brand with Saab 340s to CLE. (And BTW, Colgan only flew to BFD/JHW, it was Air Midwest to PKB/MGW/CKB.)

On the plus side, Air Midwest just picked up three new small cities in Utah, and they'll probably put the HPX (and then USX) code on those flights. Not very helpful for PIT, though. Air Midwest was also just re-selected at MHK/SLN and AHN.

Also, this'll presumably free up a Saab 340 for Colgan to add a new point-to-point, non-EAS route with. In recent months, they had to cancel SYR-BDL in order to (re-)start BOS-ALB due to lack of available aircraft. They were also scheduled to pick up the BWI-GSO/SYR routes after Trans States dropped them due to retiring the J41s, but that also fell through. So hopefully one or two of those routes will be returning.

I agree that MGW and RDG should be able to support USX service to PHL or CLT without subsidy. Two other former USX markets were picked up by DL just the other day, ILG and SOP, again markets that US should be still in, especially SOP with all the golf business US does.

 

[Rob]

On the plus side, Air Midwest just picked up three new small cities in Utah ...

Air Midwest took a very positive and flexible view of the Cedar City, UT route. They proposed and were awarded an EAS route to PHX, feeding US. Cedar City parties pointed out that there was a good bit of O&D that would be lost by not flying to SLC. Accordingly, Air Midwest changed their proposal to SLC, with the proviso that they will fly to PHX if SLC doesn't work out.

That is a much more accomodating attitude and customer-pleasing approach than they have shown in some Pennsylvania cities, which specifically asked the DOT not to award any route to Air Midwest. Maybe they're trying harder these days, after losing routes in the East.

 

[BCDurbin]

Also, this'll presumably free up a Saab 340 for Colgan to add a new point-to-point, non-EAS route with. In recent months, they had to cancel SYR-BDL in order to (re-)start BOS-ALB due to lack of available aircraft. They were also scheduled to pick up the BWI-GSO/SYR routes after Trans States dropped them due to retiring the J41s, but that also fell through. So hopefully one or two of those routes will be returning.

Damm Ring - I fly for 'em and even I don't know this much!! Can you tell me my schedule next month?