New Bedford Airport

Saw this story in the Boston Globe, click here: Here is part,


Mayor Scott W. Lang is trying something that might not fly: He's lobbying small, regional airlines to launch service from here to Boston's Logan International or Warwick's T.F. Green International airports. To some, it might seem absurd to fly for 20 to 25 minutes between New Bedford Regional Airport and Boston instead of driving the 60 miles, and even more so for the 40-mile trek to Warwick, R.I.

But commercial air service from New Bedford to one of the two cities would mean South Coast residents could catch connecting flights in Boston or Warwick and avoid traffic, expensive airport parking, and long lines at security checkpoints. Not to mention, it could turn New Bedford's tiny airport into a better economic engine for an old whaling town trying to attract more biotechnology manufacturing, alternative energy, and marine science and technology companies.
"It adds a tremendous amount of convenience," said Lang, who in his State of the City address proclaimed 2008 would be the "year of the airport." The airport already is being used more: Corporate jet operations are up 66 percent in the past year and Bridgewater State College is opening a flight academy there this fall.

"There's a real niche for a place like New Bedford, to go through a smaller airport to a hub."
But starting new service may not be on the radar for an industry crushed by record-high fuel prices and huge losses. "Carriers, if anything, are trying to determine which airports and routes to eliminate, rather than add," said Darin Lee, aviation economist for consulting firm LECG. "It would be difficult to make it commercially viable with today's fuel costs."

Still, there's some demand for the service. Agostinho Amado commuted between his Taunton home and Boston office - which could take two hours one way during rush hour - before opening an immigration services business in New Bedford in 2007. "I wouldn't mind paying $150 to $200 round trip" to fly between New Bedford and Boston, said Amado, 57. "Traffic makes you upset