http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/NEWS/608300724/1008/NEWS02
I still say we should be thanking Allegiant for giving ORH a shot?? We need to figure out why Allegiant could not make money at ORH, since Allegiant continues service at all the other cities in their network with the same high fuel costs and the same fuel inefficeint MD-80's. Couple of very interesting things, however, I want to point out:
- "airline was running its flights from 80 percent to 85 percent capacity from December to April. Capacity dropped to 69.3 percent in May, and it was 71 percent June and 88 percent in July. "
What happened to the 85-90 loads? If you do the math quick, it looks to be more in the 80% load range. In the end when the final numbers are analyzed, the load will be approximately 75%.
- "We need to make sure that diversity exists in the airport’s operations. People often associate success at an airport with commercial air service. But commercial air traffic will always be impacted by the vagaries of the economy. That is why we need to diversify the airport’s operations.”
Any future announcements concerning ORH in the short-term will center on General Aviation. There will be no commercial airlines announcements.
22 comments:
Also in Tuesdays T&G a letter to the editor from Mayor Murray. His concern for commuter rail service is admirable. The Mayor is highly visible for MBTA , but is MIA for ORH.
IMO he s/b more concerned about ORH than MBTA. Afterall he is the Mayor of Worcester and not hte mayor of Providence or Metrowest or the South Shore.
Unfortunatly we have to stay anonymous. If we speak out at the airport we get punished by everybody. I have seen people get run off the field because he couldn't take the crap any more. Anyways, The city bashing Allegiant was a very bad thing to do. Alot of other airlines heard this. Again aviation is a VERY small world. If Allegiant pulled out because of load factors and high fuel cost because of the length of flight. Why aren't they pulling out of Pease? The load numbers are less and the flight is longer.
We need to scale back and look at what we have and support that. We have GA business there doing well. Lets see how we can support them. Maybe incentives of some sort. Like we will fix the roof that leaks or we will fix the heat for the winter. We 13 or so colleges in the area. There must be people going to them that want to fly.
I would say all of the business at ORH would do better if accomadations were better. Offer real low lease of land if they will build a building. Offer a long time lease if they will build. Make whatever it is appealing to business. Every business in aviation is crucial to which airport they go to. That airport will make or break a business. So the business must ask, why should I go to ORH? What does this airport have to offer that will benefit me the most? This is were incentives comes in to play. But whatever it is. Make it availible NOW. People want to build NOW. Not when the study is done or the master plan is done. Most other airports around have land avialible now. Even if more than 1 party is interested in it. It's first come first serve.
People from other airports like to train here because it has all the good stuff without the traffic. But they will not stop here because there is no reason to. They don't even know anything is there except for expensive fuel.
Lets capitolize on what we have. Not what we don't have. You can't build a house without a foundation. We have the start of a foundation but we to finish it. We have awsome runways and taxiways with lots and lots of room. Pilots say all the time that this place is great. Meaning, flying into it and getting around by plane. We have the potential for great foundation. But WE need to build it from the bottom up 1 brick at a time. The city has a problem of jumping into a pool before they know how to swim.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
Anonymous:
I will run with some of the stuff you mention here. One correction (before Charley corrects you) the loads were actually higher at Pease overall I believe.
Bill
Anonymous said...
"Unfortunatly we have to stay anonymous"
As far as I know, Bill is the only one who uses his full name.
It gets a little confusing when several anonymous people post.
If you don't want to set up an account, at least pick some name to use.
Are you saying no one else uses their real name? So...Tom isn't a real name? I'm an enigma? Just a figment of my imagination?
Seriously, though, thanks for championing a cause I had mentioned before, Bill. Everyone can be creative and take on a new handle for this blog, making it easier to separate the comments.
Ironic "Charley Farley" is complaining about anonymous posters??
BILL RANDELL
Tom said...
"Are you saying no one else uses their real name? "
Nope. I said FULL name.
aka tim.
Charlie, I trust you're looking into that flowage fee for me or maybe you have the answer right off the top of your head?
Again how much is and how is it determined per gallon, whatever.
The reason I am asking you is b/c you seem to be quite knowledgeable about aviation and ORH and It would save me a lot of leg work and prob take me 6 weeks to get answer from ORH admin.
Thereason i want to know what it is in dollars is b/c I am wondering if we waived some of these terminal costs for Alleg., if they'd maybe still be here come Sept.
Again, I thank you in advance for your effort.
Jahn Dough said...
"Charlie, I trust you're looking into that flowage fee for me or maybe you have the answer right off the top of your head?"
I don't have the answers, not do I know where to look. I believe I saw a reference to it in the marketing grant application, but I cannot put my hands on that right now.
The marketing grant application spoke of in-kind contributions, such as free parking, waived landing fees, waived flowage fees, and a few others.
The didn't offer free parking, so I doubt they waived any fees. I don't know if the details of the agreement with Allegiant were ever published. Somehow I doubt it.
One more thing: I just happened to be looking at old comments and found yours. If you want to contact me directly, use abusedtaxpayer@gmail.com
The deal with Allegiant i spublic information, I will request it after I get some other information back that I requested.
So, there it stands. Bill, Tim, and Tom are the only ones able to identify themselves. I sleep better at night knowing that I don't need to hide behind a self-imposed Shield of Anonymity. I'm curious, though. Why wouldn't someone knowledgeable and motivated toward promoting change at ORH NOT want his/her identity to be known, unless they have an integral role there at present? Things that make you go, hmmmmmmmmmm.
I say again, ones' opinion is severely diluted when you're...no one.
Calls us what you want. But you don't have make a living up here. We do. The more you speak out, the more punished you get. I mean from everyone starting at the top. Because you are "rocking the boat and making waves" Which makes people in power look bad. Then it goes down the chain of command. This is where you get punished. There was resent incident of where a city employee kept pulling the fire alrm in the terminal while a flight was there. So one of the cops kept telling him to stop. When he didn't the cop pulled his badge and wrote him up. Guess who got in trouble? The cop for upholding the law. Does that make sense.
Bottom line is this place is corrupt with, if your not liked you will be a target. That's why we can't speak out.
I find it hard to believe that an employee could pull a fire alarm at an airport and not be terminated on the spot. The heads of the Airport Security and the Fire Departments would not jeopordize their jobs and pensions covering up what sounds like a Federal offense.
I assume the airport cop is a city employee. If I walked in his shoes I would be in touch with my union bosses. If there was inaction there I would inform the following until I got action in this order:
My immediate boss then
WRA manager then
Worc Fire Dept then
Worc Police then
Mr OBrien then
City Councillor then
T & G letter to the editor.
It was not the airport police or fire trying to cover it up. They were the ones fighting for action. This cop was not liked by the 2 people in charge of the airport because he enforces the rules and laws of both FAA and airport policies. Therfore he was punished and they made the whole thing go away.
Dave, I am not trying to pick an argument here, but realistically (esp one with union issues poss. involved), but where is a mechanic or a custodian going to pull in the kind of money they are making up there on the city payroll?
If it was truly a thankless job, these guys would vote with their feet.
I just heard on radio that the city of sprfld is either talking to or signed on an outfit called Edu-Clean. i only caught part of the radio blurb, but I am guessing they provide private sector custodial services for schools.
Agin, not trying to agitate anyone, But as Obrien says, with money issues it should always be what's best for the customers (Taxpayers).
Dave, thanks for the reply, but if the head cop was unhappy he'd be moving on to better, more lucrative position. I wonder what a patrol cop makes at WPI or HC in TOTAL compensation vs. what a public sector cop makes. Not picking on cops here, but just responding to your example.
I like the old saying that says in the private sector working world (generally) we all rise to just below level of our incompetency. And to get to that level we vote with our feet when we can better ourselves.
Again just my 2 cents. Stay dry ! :)
Dave also according to what limited info I have seen, the average employee comp package up there is $100K. I know everyone is tired of hearing this, but will continue to beat this drum. Sorry :)
I wish i had more detailed data and maybe based on what limited info i do have , I am wrong, but I am still waiting to be shown that 100K per is wrong. Basically its 12 employees and $1.2M comp up there. Agian lump sum figures, but this cannot continue...general aviation or full service comm. airline airport.
At first I wanted this blog to just work on ways to increase revenues and leave it up to the pols and others that are paid to run the city to control costs. Now that Allegiant has pulled out and I question any short-term commercial revenues and there are 300 days left in the current operating agreement, we need to look at this.
Tony Alfego was the city employee pulling the alarms. 40+ year employee...an untouchable.
Wasn't there a flight school AeroConnection that got run off the field?
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