Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 20, 1990 TAG: 9006200246
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER and GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And they hope that Roanoke will be one of the cities that will help Eastern to regain its role as a major airline, according to Roanoke City Manager Robert Herbert, chairman of the Regional Airport Commission.
Herbert said Tuesday that airport officials plan to continue their efforts to attract more major carriers, such as American and Delta.
Herbert thinks Eastern's plans to start three daily round-trip jet flights between Roanoke and Atlanta on Sept. 6 will get other airlines' attention, and may help lure another major carrier for the airport.
"I am thrilled by the news. It is going to open up the entire Southeast for us," said Roanoke County Supervisor Bob Johnson, a commission member.
Eastern's decision to resume service to Roanoke, 12 years after the company ended a Pittsburgh-Roanoke-Miami flight, apparently was the result of a concentrated campaign by airport officials to attract another major airline and of the market potential in Western Virginia.
"Eastern is enthralled by the potential for passengers . . . not just the airport commission or Bob Herbert," Herbert said.
Even though Herbert is modest about the airport's efforts, Executive Director Jacqueline Shuck and several commission members have met with officials for Eastern, American and other major airlines in recent months trying to persuade them to serve Roanoke.
Passengers, especially business travelers, have asked for more service since USAir, Roanoke's only major carrier, took over Piedmont Airlines last year. Commuter flights have increased through Roanoke amid complaints about late and canceled USAir flights.
Eastern's new flights are scheduled to leave Roanoke at 7:15 a.m., noon and 7:15 p.m. The non-stop flight is to take 1 hour and 27 minutes. Return flights are scheduled to leave Atlanta at 9:30 a.m., 4:30 and 8:05 p.m.
ASA, a Delta commuter line providing the only other direct service between Roanoke and Atlanta, recently increased its daily schedule from six to seven flights. Its turboprop planes seat about 35 people.
Both Herbert and Johnson said they think Eastern essentially made a business decision to serve Roanoke, and that passenger loads will determine whether it later expands or reduces service.
Eastern, expanding in its efforts to work its way out of reorganization in bankruptcy, plans to fly a DC9-31 with 99 seats on the new Atlanta flights. The jet has a cruising speed of 520 mph; it will have 87 coach and 12 first-class seats.
Johnson said airport officials are confident that Eastern will provide good service despite its management and labor problems in recent years.
Herbert said he does not think airport officials should worry about Eastern's past financial problems. "They have a very good reputation, and we hope they are on their way back."
by CNB