July 27, 2006

Boston Traffic

I had an appointment in Wakefield at 1:00PM yesterday. Driving up Route 128, there was a rather large back-up of traffic for counters onto Route 128 trying to get onto Route 93 South. Later I noticed a a temporary sign stating that this was the "Best Route to Logan". Again let me stress early afternoon traffic was jammed. Keep in mind this is still about 45 minutes away including a trip through the Callahan Tunnell and finding a parking spot at Logan.

This is a huge opportunity for Worcester!!! Maybe we should be asking for more flights per week from Allegiant, advertise that fact and make ORH to place to go for a flight to Orlando. This can be done note the story below. Before you read this please review our on-line petition (if you have not already).

http://www.petitiononline.com/ORH/petition.html

http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/wb/xp-75311

Two months after launching service from Roanoke to Orlando, low-cost carrier Allegiant Air announced Tuesday plans to double the number of weekly flights on that route starting in November. The Las Vegas-based airline currently flies nonstop to Orlando's Sanford International Airport twice a week from Roanoke for about $100 each way, and according to airport officials, those flights have stayed consistently full throughout much of the summer.

Allegiant will add flights on Monday and Friday to its existing flights on Wednesday and Saturday. The flights leave Roanoke at 6 p.m. and arrive in Orlando at 7:50 p.m. The airline flies twin-engine MD80 jets that carry 150 passengers. "We generally don't add service so quickly," said Allegiant Air spokeswoman Tyri Squyres. "But from the beginning, we've gotten such a good response from the Roanoke community." She added that Roanoke was among the airline's best booking markets for flights to Orlando. The airline also flies nonstop to Orlando from 14 other cities including Allentown, Pa., and Newburgh, N.Y.

Sherry Wallace, a spokeswoman for Roanoke Regional Airport, said that while airlines have cut capacity nationwide this year, more people tend to be flying this summer than several years ago. Allegiant Air has been selling out many of its flights, she said, and probably will continue to as the summer traffic dies down. Orlando is ranked fifth on the airport's list of top 10 destinations and stays popular throughout much of the year, Wallace said.

Las Vegas, the airline's home base, is ranked 10th on Roanoke's list, but Squyres said it is doubtful that Allegiant Air will begin flying nonstop between the two cities -- at least not in the short-term.
"For the aircraft we fly, fuel would be an issue," Squyres said, adding that the 150-seat plane would have to make at least one stop to refuel. The farthest east Allegiant Air flies, she said, is from Las Vegas to Lansing, Mich. Allegiant Air specializes in taking passengers to Orlando and Las Vegas from smaller-city airports such as Roanoke. It saves money by flying into Sanford International Airport, northeast of Orlando and about 35 miles from Walt Disney World.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rockford blogger here. Allegiant also had a second press release yesterday. They are expanding RFD to Orlando Sanford flights back to six per week beginning in November.

You should also visit the web site of our local NBC affilate:
www.wrex.com/News/index.php?ID-7686
I missed this but they have a story about RFD's cargo grow plus a surprising statement about the potential interest in the airport from both JetBlue and Southwest.

Have to admit I do not yet fully understand all the issues with the tunnel problems in the Boston area but from what I understand, Worcester Regional sure has a potential opportunity to attempt to develop some air service to the people in the area you serve.
Go for it !

Anonymous said...

Rockford Blogger..

Make a FLY RFD Blog @ wordpress.com
I love your airport and would love to read about it daily!

Joe Gargery said...

I had the pleasure of picking someone up at Logan on Sunday Afternoon. I left my house at 5:00pm and returned home at 10:00pm.

It took me longer to get from just outside Worcester to Boston than it took them to get from Philadelphia to Logan.

If there's anything left in the marketing grant, they should use it to run an ad right next to the Jetblue ad stating :

Airline ticket to Orlando: $79
Parking at Worcester Airport:$45
No Closed Tunnels: Priceless

Anonymous said...

I heard last week a 2 1/2 trip is the norm to Logan via Pike, 128N and 93S.

I also see in T&G (that pp.B-3?) this morning the airport limo co. is taking advantage of this opportunity by advertising reduced rates for Limo rides to Logan for anything booked through Aug 31st.

Of course this isnt helping WRA, but why not let others do the 5 hr round trip driving for you, while you catch up on your paperwork or email or reading. Again, private enteprise sees opportunity and they MOVE. I find this especially interesting given that gasoloine costs have got to be a huge budget item for a limo company, yet they are cutting price temporaily in attempt to entice more customers.