TransMeridian Airline Tests Daily Flights
For Two Weeks In February, Transmeridian Will Fly Daily
Mascoutah, Illinois (July 7, 2005) -- Passengers flying out of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport during two weeks in February will be able to do so any day of the week, TransMeridian Airlines announced Wednesday.
It will be the first time in the airport's history that daily scheduled passenger service will be offered. Daily flights will be available from Feb. 16 to 27. TransMeridian Airlines currently flies to Sanford International Airport near Orlando, Fla., three days a week.
"It's great news," Airport Director Tim Cantwell said. "We're going to be looking at 50,000 to 65,000 passengers next year."
The Lithia Springs, Ga.,-based airline reported an 80 percent load factor since it established service here last November. That means the airline has been able to fill 80 percent of every plane, or 132 of the 165 seats available leaving MidAmerica Airport.
"We reviewed the market reaction to our service and have confidence that adding more frequency is the right thing at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport," Colin Wheeler, TransMeridian's assistant vice president for scheduling and planning said in a news release.
MidAmerica Airport last month announced it has served more than 10,000 passengers so far this year. Cantwell said that number should continue to climb with the recent addition of Allegiant Air and increased frequency of TransMeridian's flight times.
Allegiant Air flies MidAmerica passengers to Las Vegas four days a week.
TransMeridian last month announced it has carried more than 7,000 people out of MidAmerica Airport this year. It has carried more than 8,800 passengers out of the airport since it started offering flights last fall.
"TransMeridian is providing a valuable service to our community and the community is responding," St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said in a news release.
Original estimates for the airport made in 1997 projected the airport would serve 1.1 million customers by 2000. However, a pair of failed airline ventures and a general downturn in the airline industry proved that figure unrealistic.
Information provided by the Belleville News-Democrat
Patrick J. Powers Article © the Belleville News-Democrat
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