The model for secondary airports, http://www.flyrfd.com, will announce a new airline this Friday. Rockford, like ORH, had no passenger service a few years back and is close to a major metropolitan airport (Chicago). They were bale to return service back to RFD through second-tier carriers like TransMeridian, Hooters and Allegiant, while offering free parking (not sure about WiFi).
After proving that their airport could support an airline, NorthWest tried with daily flights to their hub (Detroit) , but failed. United picked up where NorthWest left off, however, with daily flights to their hub (Denver) and by all accounts have done well. By the end of the year they will also have start-up Festival Airlines utlizing RFD as their hub. Lastly they changed their name from Rockford to NorthWest Chicagoland International Airport at Rockford.
http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060713/BUSINESS/107130073
ROCKFORD — An announcement planned for Friday at the Chicago/Rockford International Airport concerning a new international destination will not involve startup Festival Airlines, airport and airline officials said Thursday.Airport officials said the 1 p.m. announcement will concern a different airline, but declined to elaborate other than to say in an e-mail to members of its MilesAhead customer program that the airline will fly to a destination this winter.Festival Airlines Chief Operating Officer and President Thomas Glasgow said in an e-mail to the Rockford Register Star late Wednesday night that the airline is still planning the announcement of its initial destinations from Rockford and would not be part of Friday’s event.
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6 comments:
Blogger from Rockford here. I think I can be of help on several of the points mentioned here.
* The airport's (RFD) name has been
changed to Chicago/Rockford
International Airport. Less of a
tongue twister than the other
name.
* RFD does have free WiFi
* Northwest Airlines pretty much
was the cause for the demise of
their own flights. They priced
them much higher than comparative
flights to Detroit out of O Hare.
At proper pricing, flights to
Detroit can be very successful.
Detroit is our number one
business destination - lots of
manufacturing in the area.
* Load factors for the United
Express flights to Denver are
running in the high 80's to low
90's percentage wise. RFD is
reported to be working towards
a third daily to Denver and/or
utilization of a 70 seat jet.
RFD is also trying to get twice
daily United Express flights
to Washington Dulles.
* The announcement was that Apple
Vacations is going to expand
their Cancun charter service
this winter from late November
through early April.
* Ryan International Airlines is
apparantly moving their headqtrs
to Rockford from Wichita KS.
There still has been no offical
announcement but there have
been several indicators that this
likely will take place. Will also
be at least some flight activity
out of RFD.
* Emery Air, a local aircraft
maintanence provider just
announced a major three year
contract with Comair (Delta
Connection) to service their RJ
fleet.
* Like Worcester, Rockford would
like to see JetBlue fly out of
our airport. Contact continues.
RFD has likely talked to AirTran
among others about service
Anonymous:
Chicago/Rockford much better. Tell someone that the website still has the old name...
RFD has free Wi-Fi (free parking too) --thanks for the rest of the info too...
Is not Ryan Air moving their headquarters to Rockford--a huge deal for RFD???
Rockford blogger.
Is Ryan International's move to Rockford big for RFD ? Yes !
As I am sure you know they are a charter airline but RFD will certainly see flights and operations occur. Corporate headquarters will likely not be at RFD but those jobs will certainly benefit the local and regional economy. Ryan Int'l held a job fair previously and their web site (while not the best) listed various job listings for Rockford, IL.
We are also awaiting word from Festival Airlines on their specific plans for flights, destinations, etc. Phoenix is the rumored destination that keeps coming up but other possibilities as well. Festival's corporate HQ's to be in Chicago, operations HQ here in Rockford, and maintenance and training HQ in Pensacola FL.
Let's all hope they can get going to serve not only RFD and Midway but also places like Worcester, Youngstown, Columbia, MO and other deserving, underserved airports.
Rockford. Can you make a RFD Blog....
I will see. Have to admit that I am not the biggest tech geek in the world but maybe someone else can.
I can't wait to see what Festival has in store. I have read recent articles suggesting they will be bigger than originally thought. Although these guys are very tight-lipped, they do seem to be creating quite a buzz down here in Flroida.
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