CANCELED FLIGHTS SPARK COMPLAINTS FROM TRANS WORLD EXPRESS COMMUTER

Trans World Express, which operates a commuter airline between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, shoots for 100 percent performance in their scheduled flights but some months "we just don't make it," said Bill Mishk, TWE marketing director.

The past month has been an example.

"We missed two flights on May 9 and two on June 10," said Mishk. "We may have missed more. We'd have to run a day-by-day check to see."

Mishk was responding to a letter written by an unhappy commuter, claiming that the airlines missed as many as 15 flights during the past month.

"I know they missed flights on two days," said Arthur L. Sobery, of Cape Girardeau. He said employees at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport said that the airline missed 15 flights during the past month.

Mishk agreed that TWE may have missed more than those on May 9, and June 10.

The canceled June flights were a result of crew problems, noted Mishk. "The crew scheduled to make the flights were ill, and we did not have a backup crew."

In the case of the May 9 flights, it was weather.

"Weather has affected us the past couple of months," he said. "We have some terrible weather here."

Mechanical problems is listed as another cause of canceled flights.

The St. Louis-Cape Girardeau connections results in about 180 flights per month -- "three flight down and three flights back each day," said Mishk.

Even with 15 total cancellations, that's 92 percent reliability, Mishk said.

"That's a completely unacceptable service," said Sobery. "Perhaps Cape Girardeau needs to rid itself of Trans World Express. In fact, I would like to suggest that the city search for a new commuter airline to either complete with or replace TWE."

Sobery's letter was submitted to the airport manager, mayor of Cape Girardeau and TWE at St. Louis.

"I will not fly with TWE again until the company becomes enlightened as to the unacceptable level of service it is providing," Sobery wrote.

Cape Girardeau's airport management has received other complaints about TWE missing flights.

"We have discussed the situation with TWE officials," said Bruce Loy, airport manager.

He said they have promised to take some action to take remedy the situation. "TWE hates to miss flights. The company's officials know it can be an inconvenience to passengers," he said.

Loy said passenger boardings have increased during the past few months.

"One of the reasons for the boarding increase resulted from Trans World Express' new schedule," said Loy. The airlines went from four to six flights a day in October of 1997.

Procter & Gamble business flights have also boosted the airport's overall boardings.

"We are in the process of putting statistics and data together to determine if a second airline is warranted," said Loy. "We'd like to see an airline which could add service to another area, like Memphis."

In 1983, three airlines operated commuter lines to Cape Girardeau: Britt Airlines, Northwest Airlink and Trans World.