A second airline could soon be servicing Bradford Regional
Airport.

On Wednesday, the Bradford Regional Airport Authority learned
that new regional carrier AirLink Express – which would fly to
destinations solely within Pennsylvania – could soon be adding
Bradford as a stop, coupling with established airline Colgan Air
Inc. to provide double the flights for travelers.

Colgan flies under the US Airways Express banner and has daily
flights to Pittsburgh.

“This would be the first time that I can remember the airport
would have two airlines servicing us,” Airport Manager Tom
Frungillo said, adding the airline could help increase passenger
traffic to the small, rural facility in Lafayette Township.

Officials said the two airlines would not be in competition with
each other, in large part because Colgan provides connections and
flights to cities across the country. Already on board with the new
airline are such cities as Erie, DuBois, Lancaster, Harrisburg and
Philadelphia.

According to Frungillo, much like Colgan, the new airline would
cater to the business traveler looking to avoid driving to
destinations within the state. Eventually, the airline has
indicated it would like to expand into the Maryland and Washington
areas.

“They are trying to capture the traveler that needs to go from
Bradford to Harrisburg, but doesn’t want to drive,” Frungillo
said.

On its Web site, the airline touts every day low fares,
point-to-point service with shorter travel times, the elimination
of layovers at hubs and convenient schedules, including morning
business flights. In addition, the Web site indicates that
passengers would be able to book one-way fares without penalty.

Airline officials indicate the carrier provides direct service
“with 15-minute turns” at airports. A typical passenger would need
to arrive at the airport 20 minutes before a scheduled flight, with
carry-on bags in hand. The airline would also use local travel
agents to handle reservations, in addition to online booking.

The airline would likely use seven-seat, single-engine Cessna
aircraft, airport officials said.

“They (AirLink) say the fares would be half of the cost of
regular airline prices,” Frungillo said.

On another level, Frungillo said an additional airline would
positively impact the airport’s passenger traffic, which has been
slowly creeping upward following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks. As a result, the airport could stand to gain increased
funding for its operations from the federal and state
governments.

The airport is currently under the federal Essential Air Service
(EAS) program, which ensures that rural communities with commercial
air service before deregulation continue to receive it.

Frungillo said the additional flights that AirLink would provide
would not effect the airport’s EAS designation.

Airport officials urged local businesses and travelers to take
the airline’s online survey, which will help determine the area’s
interest in the carrier. Once the survey is completed, a traveler
would receive 20 percent off a flight with AirLink.

The airline’s Web site is www.flyairlinkexpress.com. A link to
the survey is located on the main page.

Colgan Air – which took over for Mesa Air Group Inc. last year –
currently serves Bradford Regional with a fleet of 34-seat
airplanes complete with a flight attendant and bathroom. The
airline also flies to nearby Chautauqua County-Jamestown, N.Y.,
airport as part of a joint effort between the two facilities.
Meanwhile, Colgan added a fourth morning flight last year and has
been working to heavily market the airport.

Airport officials have also said the merger between US Airways
and America West could lead to expanded travel markets for local
travelers.

In other news, the authority announced its preliminary budget
has been prepared and will be sent out to the counties comprising
the authority, along with the board members.

Frungillo said the authority’s in line for a balanced budget for
the sixth year in a row, adding the counties’ contributions will
remain the same as last year.

The 2005 budget stood at $525,408, an increase of $4,865 from
the previous year.

Also, the authority announced it will be changing its meeting
times from 1 p.m. to 11 a.m. The authority meets the second
Wednesday of every month in the airport’s conference room.