The Bradford Regional Airport Authority has chosen Colgan Air
Inc., to provide service to Washington-Dulles International
Airport, the airport’s manager said Wednesday. Airport officials
will submit their recommendation to the U.S. Department of
Transportation today.
“Right now that is our top choice and there is no other option
for us,” Airport Manager Tom Frungillo said. “Everybody is on the
same page and we believe this is the best choice for the health of
air service up here. Now, it’s in the DOT’s hands.”
Two airlines have submitted proposals to the DOT to provide air
service at Bradford Regional – Colgan and RegionsAir of Nashville,
Tenn. Bradford and nearby Chautauqua County (N.Y.) Jamestown
Municipal Airport have a joint agreement for service.
Airport officials have stated their desire to stay with US
Airways Express carrier Colgan, but change hub cities from
Pittsburgh to Washington. The other choice available, through
RegionsAir, is to fly into Cleveland, a choice originally batted
around by the Jamestown officials.
Bradford officials have been working with their counterparts in
Jamestown in an attempt to get everyone on the same page.
“This is a major decision,” Frungillo said. “We are hoping that
our choice helps lift our enplanements (the number of passengers
using Bradford Regional) up to prior to Sept. 11, 2001,
levels.”
In the wake of Sept. 11, small, rural airports such as Bradford
sustained a serious blow in regards to commercial air traffic.
Shortly afterward, Bradford went under the auspices of the federal
Essential Air Service program, which ensures that communities that
had commercial air service before deregulation continue to receive
it.
Since that point, airport officials have been working diligently
to remove the airport from the yoke of EAS.
The DOT’s final decision could ultimately come down to funding;
the combined federal subsidy for Bradford and Jamestown was set at
$1,003,874 per year, with Colgan’s contract extending through Oct.
31, 2006.
Due to increased operating costs, Colgan announced last
September that it was looking to renegotiate its two-year contract
under EAS, stressing its commitment to remain servicing the
airport. The cost of fuel was the main reason for Colgan’s
decision.
“Last time we had to make a choice we had a couple of options,”
Frungillo said. “This time, we believe that Colgan is best for us
and where we have the best potential for growth.”
In 2003, after then-carrier Mesa Air Group Inc. sought
subsidized help under EAS, airport leaders turned their focus
toward Continental carrier CommutAir, which services Cleveland.
However, the DOT eventually chose Colgan, with Mesa, another US
Airways Express carrier, losing out altogether.
Airport officials have also stressed the need to find a new hub
city in the light of Pittsburgh’s recent malaise in sustaining air
service and destinations.
“The advantage with going with Washington is the destinations,”
Frungillo said. “Pittsburgh is losing destinations. According to a
study which was done, there are twice as many destinations
available through Dulles than Pittsburgh. In order to survive you
need a hub where there are choices for our passengers. Pittsburgh
is no longer the hub it once was.
“We did our homework and talked to people and have developed
support for this.”
According to Frungillo, Altoona-Blair County Airport in Altoona
– which is similar in size to Bradford Regional in regards to
service – currently has Colgan servicing its facility to
Washington.
“They have also been on the Pittsburgh route and are on EAS,”
Frungillo said. “They have seen the growth by using Colgan to
Dulles.”
Frungillo said, in addition to airport officials, local
politicians and businessmen have endorsed the potential changeover,
for which the DOT could make a decision on between 30 and 90
days.
