Article Options

Durbin urges Great Lakes to finalize agreement

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:41 PM CDT

MARION - Because of a lack of a code share agreement between Great Lakes and American Airlines, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, is coming to the aid of Williamson County Regional and other airports.

Durbin wrote a letter to the Cheyenne, Wyo., airline that handles flights from Marion, Decatur and Quincy to St. Louis saying that by not entering the agreement, the affected airports are suffering.

"These communities were subject to unreliable service for far too long and there is growing frustration over Great Lakes Aviation's delay in signing a code share agreement and flying a full schedule," Durbin said in the letter. "Each day with limited service means slower economic growth, decreased state and federal investment to the affected airports and a greater uphill battle for you to regain the trust and loyalty of the passengers."

Airport manager Doug Kimmel said the problem is that by not being associated with American Airlines, fewer travelers will see that the airports are potential start and end points when shopping for tickets. The only way to buy tickets is to go to the airport or from Great Lakes' Web site.

He said the airline presented the code share as a selling point and about six months into service, the deal has still not been finalized and they have only recently increased the number of flights from two to three a day. The original goal was four flights. Kimmel said the lack of an agreement has had an effect on the traffic through the airport. The airport is averaging around 300 travelers a month when in the past, it has had as many as 1,000.

Kimmel said the airport managers turned to Durbin because there is not a whole lot they can do in this situation.

"This is a deal where we don't have a whole lot of control because it's a negotiation thing between Great Lakes and American Airlines," Kimmel said.

Great Lakes was awarded a two-year, $3.5 million contract in Marion, Decatur and Quincy when Regions halted service in March of 2007. Kimmel said the managers had to turn to Durbin to ensure the survival of the airports and the local flights they offer.

"We just don't want to be the next three airports to lose service because these two airlines can't come to terms," Kimmel said.

Attempts to reach Great Lakes officials for comment Thursday were unsuccessful.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

351-5804