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Akron-Canton one of only two airports competing for daily flights to Ronald Reagan National Airport
By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008
Akron-Canton Airport officials are hoping to land a coveted opening for the facility's first nonstop flight to Washington, D.C.
US Airways has submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Transportation for two slots — the equivalent to one round-trip flight — to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Airport and regional officials have been trying to get a Washington nonstop flight for more than a decade, said Kristie Van Auken, airport senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer.
''We have really never been this close,'' said Van Auken.
Landing and takeoff slots at National are restricted by the government and rarely open up, said Van Auken.
The slots will be awarded by mid to late November with service to start hopefully within 60 days from that time, said Van Auken.
The slots are available under a transportation bill passed in 2000, officials said.
Van Auken said it appears Akron-Canton's chances are good because there are only two applicants. Midwest Airlines has requested the slot for its fifth round trip from Milwaukee to D.C.
''We think we have such a strong case. We have no access to [Washington, D.C.],'' she said. ''We think our community deserves access.''
In 2003, AirTran Airways was one of about a half dozen carriers that tried for four open slots and was not successful.
Washington, D.C., is the most requested destination the airport currently doesn't serve, said Rick McQueen, the airport's new president and chief executive officer. He took over the helm of the airport on Oct. 1 after longtime director Fred Krum retired.
''A lot of people need to get to D.C. They need to talk to Congresspeople and their representatives to tell them how their businesses are being impacted. It's important for our community to have that access, especially with everything changing right now with the election,'' said McQueen.
Currently, travelers out of Akron-Canton can get to D.C., but only by connecting through another airport, said McQueen.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has a few nonstops to D.C.
US Airways spokeswoman Valerie Wunder said the airline has seen ''impressive growth over the past decade at Akron-Canton and the airport does a great job marketing its new service.''
Akron is a ''great untapped market'' to Washington and the airline has seen examples that the community will support the new service, she said.
Congressional leaders from Northeast Ohio are supportive of the new route and working on a joint letter of support, said Van Auken.
U.S. Reps. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre, and Tim Ryan, D-Niles, were unavailable to comment.
In a statement, Dan Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, and Dennis Saunier, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber, said Washington service is critical to business in Northeast Ohio and would help in recruiting talent.
Van Auken said it's extraordinary to have a carrier looking to start a new service, such as Washington, during a time when other airports are not expanding.
''It's amazing that we happen to be really bucking this national trend of communities that are experiencing decline in air service. Here, we are maybe putting the most valuable route into air service,'' she said.
US Airways currently has five round-trip flights from Akron to its Charlotte, N.C., hub and two to its Philadelphia hub.
If the Washington slots are awarded, the 50-seat passenger planes would be aimed at business-class travelers with traditional fares.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron-Canton Airport officials are hoping to land a coveted opening for the facility's first nonstop flight to Washington, D.C.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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south of Akron, NO
Posted 08:06 AM, 10/14/2008
I hope it happens! We live in Southern Maryland and frequently travel to Akron/Canton to visit friends and relatives - should would be nice not to have to drive and still get there in a reasonable amount of time. Keep going for it, Mr. McQueen!
