Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 21, 1995 TAG: 9503210134
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Travel agent Mel Ludovici thinks he has the answer to the high air fares confronting business travelers between Roanoke and Richmond.
It's the bus.
But not just any bus. What Ludovici, president of Martin Travel Inc. in Roanoke, is talking about is an office on wheels, equipped with cellular phones, fax machine, restroom, kitchenette, television, video player and computer hookups.
Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, which has major offices in Roanoke but its headquarters in Richmond, is one of Martin Travel's largest business customers. So, at lunchtime Monday, Ludovici took Trigon employees for a spin on a bus similar to one he would use for the proposed Roanoke-Richmond service.
The Trigon workers and others, about 15 people in all, ate a lunch of club sandwiches and soft drinks as they cruised north out of Roanoke on Interstate 81. Sitting comfortably in plush Italian leather couches and chairs, the passengers listened to Matt McConnell, marketing director for Matthews Speciality Vehicles of Archdale, N.C., describe the vehicle's special features.
Along for the ride was Fred Abbott, president of Abbott Bus Lines of Roanoke. Ludovici said Abbott's participation would be essential for the proposed service to occur; and one likely scenario would have Abbott owning and operating the bus, which would be leased to Martin Travel.
Ludovici prodded his guests for their opinions. "It's real important to me and Fred if you don't like this idea, you tell us," Ludovici said.
He heard little, however, to scare him away. "I thought it was very positive," Ludovici said as his guests debarked the bus in front of the Trigon building on Franklin Road. "I wanted to hear the truth whether it was good or bad," he said.
Ed Machado, vice president of finance for Trigon, had only good things to say about the bus after his ride. Trigon had gone to Ludovici looking for alternatives to high-cost air travel to Richmond, and "he's done exactly what we asked him to do," Machado said.
Last year, Trigon logged 335 car-rental days between Roanoke and Richmond and 87 trips by air. Machado said whatever the company saved on that travel could be passed on to customers in lower insurance premiums.
"I think it will work pretty well for me, but maybe not all the time," said Robert Manetta, associate general counsel of Carilion Health Systems, who was Ludovici's only guest rider Monday who doesn't work for Trigon. Instead of spending six hours driving a car to Richmond and back, he could spend that time on the bus, reading, working or just resting after a long day, Manetta said.
A round-trip business class ticket on USAir Express from Roanoke to Richmond cost $234 last year; as of Monday that same trip cost $491 if the ticket is purchased the same day as the flight or $401 if bought three days in advance.
Ludovici said a round-trip bus ticket would cost under $100. He said he expected the bus to remain competitive even if USAir lowers its ticket price.
Mac McCadden, regional marketing director for USAir, said the airline has to maintain its fares at a level to make air service profitable and can not lower them to compete with a bus.
The three-day advance-purchase fare was instituted this week in response to customer complaints about higher fares, McCadden said.
The bus, which would carry about 25 passengers, would run five days a week and would stop at as many as three Richmond locations, Ludovici said.
Ludovici said he will decide in about 30 days whether to begin the bus service. Service probably could not begin before fall, he said.
by CNB