AIR SERVICE TO LEAVE WITHOUT FUTURE SUBSIDY

Trans World Express Airlines has notified the U.S. Department of Transportation that unless their operations here are subsidized they will pull out of Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport within 90 days.

But airport and city officials said the announcement won't affect flights in and out of Cape Girardeau and could actually help the city secure additional airline service.

Airport Manager Mark Seesing said TWE's announcement last week is part of the application procedure for airlines seeking a DOT subsidy. He said that due to the city's Essential Air Service (EAS) designation, service to the city is mandated.

"What their petition does is give the DOT 90 days to come up with another carrier to fill the EAS ser

IP0,0vice," Seesing said. "If nothing comes up within 90 days, then the DOT would provide a subsidy to allow TWE to continue providing the EAS."

IP1,0The EAS program started in 1978 the same time airline deregulation began to ensure small communities still would have such service.

William Mishk, director of marketing for TWE, said the airline has struggled unsuccessfully to operate profitably in Cape Girardeau.

Mishk wouldn't disclose how much money TWE was applying for other than to say, "We need to make it economically profitable" to operate in Cape Girardeau.

Doug Leslie, Cape Girardeau's Public Works director, said the city is "looking at the positive" aspects of TWE's announcement.

"You don't like this sort of announcement to come out because it appears to be negative, but we see it as positive in getting some additional air service to the airport," he said. "It potentially could open the door to other carriers, and it might mean connections to other cities."

Leslie said the DOT will conduct a hearing some time during the next 90 days to consider TWE's operations here and their subsidy petition.

City officials and members of the city's Airport Advisory Board have said securing additional air carrier service is the airport's top priority.

Many of them have pointed to poor service by TWE as one reason boardings at the airport have declined steadily in the past few years. This year, boardings likely will fall short of the 10,000 needed to receive $300,000 in annual Federal Aviation Administration entitlements.

Jerry McClanahan, chairman of the city's Airport Advisory Board, said it's difficult for TWE to increase passengers for their flights between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis because of the cities' proximity.

"We're just too close to St. Louis," he said. "It's easier to drive."

McClanahan said TWE's announcement could boost the airport's chances of getting another airline to provide flights to destinations other than St. Louis.

"I don't see it being a big problem," he said of TWE's 90-day notice. "We all knew it was coming."

"I hope there's not going to be a negative effect on public perception because there's no change really. It's just a matter of procedure for filing for a government subsidy."

Leslie said the city hopes to contact several airlines that might be interested in operating in Cape Girardeau. Earlier this year, city officials said an airline was interested in serving Cape Girardeau if TWE decided to pull out.

"We will be updating contacts with those people and other airlines as well," Leslie said. "TWE's announcement could mean that we get someone else or even an additional carrier.

"We're pursuing the positive side of this, and will be contacting some carriers to let them know the status at the airport. But until then, it will not change the service here at all."