Air Service Development Report

Our Vice President of Air Service Development, Dave Young, recently shared some information with our Transportation Committee members that we would like to share here…

On Wednesday, Kevin Mitchell of the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) distributed a document putting forth their opinion on current airline service levels at cities throughout the country.

Tammy Lee, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Northwest Airlines said “The report issued by the BTC…is based solely on one person’s opinion, not on actual schedules published by the airlines. The BTC does not have any insight into our business plans and [their] assertions should be viewed as wild, unfounded speculation.”

Many regional airports mentioned in this report are disappointed with the opinions stated. South Bend Regional Airport Executive Director John Shalliol called the report “nonsense” and said the report is misleading in its findings.

Additionally, American Airlines recently announced a reduction in the Chicago market while at the same time announcing an increase in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. The net result being that the number of American Airlines departures at Fort Wayne remains the same. And when you consider our new Minneapolis nonstops, and Continental doubling the number of seats they offer, the outlook is not necessarily ominous.

There is little doubt that there are challenges ahead for the aviation community throughout the US and abroad, but disruption and unnecessary concern caused by unfounded opinion should not be one of them.

We will continue to focus our efforts to improve air service here in Fort Wayne, and look forward to the benefits those successes will have.