Festival Rumor

Looks like Festival is trying to work out a Rockford Mesa flight (http://www.flywga.org):

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=68615

The Chicago area could be the next destination for Williams Gateway in its efforts to become a regional airport. And the Mesa terminal might be welcoming visitors from the Midwest long before the annual onslaught of Cubs fans in March.

Airlines, based in Rockford, Ill., is considering year-round service to Williams Gateway Airport, sources close to the negotiations said. Rockford International Airport — which earned its middle name with regular service to Cancun, Mexico — initiated the talks. Bob O’Brien, Rockford’s executive director and the man with a mission to ferry passengers between his home base and the Valley, said he expects to see that happen before year’s end. “It’s not ‘Phoenix or bust,’ it’s Phoenix now or Phoenix later,” O’Brien said.

“Rockford International is geographically the center of the population base for the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, and the Chicago-Milwaukee relationship with Phoenix is very strong. There’s a lot of activity back and forth to (Chicago’s main airport) O’Hare. Given the congestion of O’Hare, we are trying to create a new passenger experience to the Phoenix area.” O’Brien said Williams Gateway and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are under consideration for the route.