Today there was an announcement in the paper that 4 elementary schools will be closed due to an $8 million dollar shortfall. Ironically the two elementary schools that are closest to ORH (Mill Swan & New Ludlow) were two of the four.
It will not take long for these upset parents to point out that we can subsidize an airport losing $2,000,000 per year (although partially subsidized by MassPort), but can not keep their elementary schools, that their kids can walk to open. It is great that we have Allegiant flying out of Worcester, but there has to be a greater sense of urgency since two flights per week simply is not even close to enough.
If the airport does not start making greater strides fast, the cry to downgrade to a General Aviation (GA) airport will only get louder and louder. If two flights per week and one airline is the best we can do, I will agree with them.
Same Time Next Year
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It’s been nearly a year since I wrote about the problems that come from
having 11 bosses who are not on the same page about anything, as well as
suggestion...
5 months ago
3 comments:
Jeremy:
That is the million dollar question. In March, 2005, we hired IMG (at a cost of $53,000) to prepare 6 presentations. If you review the minutes from the board meetings, there is no mention as to the status of these 6 presentatiions, any mention of an airline coming to ORH, etc.
The premise that I am always told is that these negotiations are top secret. Give me a break. Bottom line nobody is aggressively on the phone talking to prospective airlines.
Instead we hire consultants at a cost of $53,000 to do that and wait for them to get back to us.
Bill, how can you tell Jeremy and other readers with certainty that "...nobody is aggressively on the phone talking to prospective airlines..." when the administration, maybe b/c of restraints imposed externally, has not been able to tell us what they, the administration, are/are not doing? The assertion that they are being purposefully evasive is conjecture on your part, which can lead to unsubstantiated rumors. How about if WIP diplomatically continues to inquire about what they ARE doing and report successes, (Minutes on-line now) and not fire broadside at their silence. I think it's dangerous for anyone to conclude that nothing is being done simply because it is not reported daily to the media. But, Jeremy, that is a fair question, one that WIP has asked.
Tom:
We are running out of time with the airport. Things like 4 schools shutting down will put more pressure on the airport to become a General Aviation Airport.
Maybe I am just getting frustrated but I think we needed to get Worcester up and running for this winter season, which we missed. Many of the airlines that we may be having "negotiations" with may not want to start till next fall. Do not think a USA3000, for example, would want to start flights this summer toi Florida.
The next six months is going to be very difficult for ORH...
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