September 14, 2008

Nemeth Column

Click here to read about his assessment of Direct Air in today's Telegram. Here goes:

  • "there was no leaks". Patting myself on the back, I knew that an announcement was eminent, most likely in September for the busy winter season. I even instituted the a "no airport" discussion in August to not be blamed if an airline does not come. Although I thought it was Casino Direct, I predicted Myrtle Beach Direct the day before the announcement. Not bad for a "silly blogger".
  • "good formula"? The CEO's, Judy Tull, most recent public charter was Hooters, which was the same exact formula to lease planes and service secondary airports with direct leisure flights as Direct Air. It failed.
  • "good track history" of Direct Air? What happened at St Pete's?
  • "no pricey consultants.". We spent over $100,000 of our Small Community Air Service Grant to recruit and retain an airline on IMG, we did not even use them for Direct Air? Maybe we should have spent that $100,000 on Allegiant, when we had them to keep them.
  • Company desribed as "profitable"? Not sure how the finances of any private company can be described as "profitable" or "non-profitable".
  • "Mickey Mouse Air". You got to be kiddin me Allegiant is in fact a "profitable" company and surely are not a "Mickey Mouse Airline".

Although I am happy to have Direct Air and hope it leads to other announcements, this public charter concerns me. Most likely they do not have alot of cash to whether any bumps in business and I am concerned that their aggressive expansion plans may be too much to handle. Lastly Punta Gorda is no Sanford or for that matter a St Pete's.

7 comments:

John Gatti Jr said...

The retired editorial writer for the Telegram is at again. The use of the editorial page for a columnist should have included a disclosure of the Robert Z tenure on the Airport Commission along with its $2 million deficit that his managerial skills have yet to solve. An airline with no planes and maintenance departmentof its own-shows no real commitment!

(also posted on Telegram Website)

We all want Worcester airport to succeed. However,this business paln and lack of real investment without full public disclosure gives a bad taste if not odor.

Robert Z should know better by insuring acoountability and oversight along with full disclosure from the outset is the only means for confidence in all government operations and decisions.

Bill Randell said...

The airline industry is a small industry and constantly bashing a successful well run airline like Allegiant does nothing for ORH's reputation.

Anonymous said...

Noticed alot of Southwest ads in the past week or so promoting $69.00 one-way to Florida no extra fees.

Free marketing tip:

Fly Direct Air from Worcester and get free parking. At Worcester $79.00 one-way MEANS $79.00 one-way!!

Anonymous said...

The MBTA being broke scares me more than air service to ORH...

http://wbztv.com/video/?id=66782@wbz.dayport.com

Economic growth in Worcester is strictly with the trains and eventually with the planes.

Harry T
Worcester, MA

Anonymous said...

I went on Southwest.com out of Prov. on Dec. 14th and return Dec.27th. The price does list taxes , PFC etc.separately and the total round-trip price was $358.00 and it was not a non-stop flight.In fact, I have to change planes.

Worcester -same dates-with taxes etc. $289.00 and it is a non-stop.

Anonymous said...

Just an FYI, on the worst stock tradingday since 2001 , Allegiant's stock was up...

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=ALGT

They must be doing something right...

Harry T
Worcester, MA

Bill Randell said...

not bad for a bunch of charlatans that run a mickey mouse airline