Great story about Niagara Airport in the Niagara Gazette. They report strong sales from Myrtle Beach Direct, someone we should be looking at, as well as interest from Kenny Tours out of Maryland, who just was announced at Rockford, and Skybus. Bottom line is we do not need consultants to tell us what airlines should come to ORH, but merely watch what airlines are going to similar airports.
More importantly Niagara has committed to 26.7 million terminal renovation, thanks to the Seneca Niagara Casino. Wonder what Harry will have to say about this?
Same Time Next Year
-
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...
4 months ago
7 comments:
Rockford blogger
To my knowledge, the Kenny Tours, Ireland charters are not official yet though it is sounding pretty good. I am not aware of an offical announcement from either RFD or Kenny Tours.
Myrtle Beach Direct Air has certainly expressed interest in Rockford but there also has been no offical announcement to my knowledge that they are definitely coming to RFD for sure.
Skybus - they would be attractive and fit well on RFD on the RIGHT routes. I suspect that they have been contacted.
Other possibilities for all of us:
ExpressJet - branded operation
Southern Skyways
PanAm Clipper Connection - Looks like they are not doing much these days. Sad, since if properly managed, these guys could help us all by flying in the Eastern half of the US.
Rockford Blogger:
PanAm is horrible and I would not want them back in Worcester. Check anywhere they have been and they are not good.
Maybe cities like ORH/Niagara/Rockford should work together with a Kenny Tours???
Bill
Wonder if the Casino folks who lent (or gave?) the money for this Niagra airport upgrade have hamstrung the airport with all kinds of conditiosn...such that they will never be able to sell and/or "down grade" the airport if they wantedd to???........which is what happened to ORH when Worc took fed'l money for terminal re-hab back in mid 90's(?)
Also, on another note, 2 days into the New Yr...............city school dept reports they are on track to report a $6M deficit for the next fiscal yr (June 09) .......Health ins expenses up 12% !! ............so next Thurssday night on the non school side of the city budget can we expect a similar report?
KOnnie will have her hands full.
Caradonio gotta be lickin' his wounds re being dropped as a potential candidate for State Ed Commish.......as it would have been nice to slide outta here about next May or June when it all hits the fan.
File Under: Will Cooler Heads Prevail?
LOL !!!! Good one, Bill !! I think my oRH/casino/economic spinoff rants listed in your archives section say it all; not to mention saving me future carpal tunnel surgery!
Keep up the good work!
Harry Tembenis
PS
I just had one of those 'mandatory radio frequency' water meters installed today. Looks like my $1000 sewer bill/extortion by the EPA will be in the mail soon...
Don't be in such a hurry to praise the Seneca Niagara Casino for the funds for the airport. To answer one question, there are no covenants by the Senecas for the money that they gave because they gave no money! The money is the city's share of the state of New York's share of the revenue that is charged by the state for the Senecas having the priveledge of operating a casino in the city. It is city money that the state has mandated to be given to the regional transportation authority for the airport terminal project,to the tume of $14MM+ over 14 years. In the meantime, while the Seneca's coffers are bursting at the seams, restaurants and other taxbase generators are going out of business by virtue of the Senecas being able to compete free of taxes and regulations. The $14MM was originally designated as a tax replacement for acerage and services that the city surrendered to the Senecas by order of the state. Of special note, the Niagara Falls International Airport is not even in Niagara Falls, and the only return on its investment that the city will receive will be from the ability to handle jumbo jets through the terminal, of which this terminal meets minimum essential designs.
The Columbus Dispatch reported over the weekend that Niagara's also getting service with Skybus, along with Wilmington, Delaware, and Gary, Indiana. (Since they're marketing Gary as their 'Chicago' destination, I wonder if this rules out RFD.)
All three airports are remarkably similar to ORH with a big exception -- they all have good highway connections.
The good thing for them is, they'll have scheduled passenger service. The bad thing is, it's Skybus.
Myrtle Beach Direct Air has tried to talk to ORH Management about flying to Worcester. They were unable to get direct answers. They are now talking the Manchester-Boston.
Post a Comment