Skybus declared bankruptcy because of high fuel-costs, ending their nine month run at Westover Airport in Chicopee.Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation President Allan Blair says, they still plan to seek the $15 million from a transportation bond bill to expand the airport. They say a modern terminal will help attract new carriers, and Skybus gave them great experience. "We have real time, real world experience, we have the real thing to prove that passenger service works here," said Blair.
65,000 passengers went through the terminal since Skybus began last July. Representative Joe Wagner say there is still a market for a no-frills airline in Western Mass. "The idea that we are still going to improve the facilities is still on the table, it is central to the mission of the airport," said Representative Wagner.They say during this time without passenger flights, the improvements can go forward, hoping a modern airport can attract another low cost airline.
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...
4 months ago
7 comments:
I have a double saw buck that says no way are they going to get $15M given:
1. the condition of the Mass budget
2. they have no comm. air service.
3. Western Mass has little or less Beacon Hill clout.
4. The Worc model (build it and they will come) is a classic case study of how not expand/operate an airport.
Jahn:
I tend to agree with you on the 15m.
On the other hand 65,000 passengers!!!! they will get another commercial airline. Watch for Allegiant, Southern Skways or Myrtle Beach Direct.
Island Air flights grounded on the Cape...
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/NEWS11/80409006
Harry Tembenis
Worcester, MA
Won’t happen unless oil goes back to $25 a barrel. Fuel costs are causing massive consolidation within the industry. Hub and Spoke is returning. Small airports are dead unless they can lure feeder airlines, or the price of oil crashes.
I have trouble understanding how fuel costs is breaking all these Small carriers........all airlines have fuel costs and over the long run those costs will be about the same for all airlines on a MPG or a passenger miles or what ever other measure they use............of course older less efficient planes come into play and partially loaded planes do, too........but i sometiems wonder if fuel is being made a scapegoat by the airlines..........so just raise the prices like others in the transportation business do???????
The opponents of the Westover expansion are pointing to this blog as proof to be wary of the BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME approach.
Maybe the Springfield citizens won't be quite as dumb as the Worcester voters. Besides, they have Bradley right down the road -- maintained by ConnDOT instead of MassPort.
Check out
http://www.masslive.com/forums/springfield/index.ssf
&
http://www.masslive.com/forums/chicopee/index.ssf
There is one hell of a debate over Skybus and whether Westover should expand. Search for Westover.
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