Cape Air wins bid for passenger flights at Cape Giradeau Regional Airport

Southeast Missouri residents can expect a big publicity and advertising campaign when Cape Girardeau's newest provider of subsidized commercial passenger service, Cape Air of Hyannis, Mass., begins flying here Nov. 8, airport and airline officials said Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday awarded a two-year Essential Air Service contract to Cape Air. The employee-owned airline, which built its business flying between Boston and the islands off Cape Cod, also won contracts for the Williamson County, Ill., Regional Airport, serving Marion, Ill., and the Quincy, Ill., Regional Airport. All flights will go to St. Louis.

"We can't wait," said Michelle Haynes, spokeswoman for Cape Air. "We are so ready."

Cape Air has promised to work hard to rebuild passenger service from the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. In 2006, the last year a full schedule of flights was operated by RegionsAir, almost 8,000 people boarded flights at the airport. That averages to about 22 each day.

So far this year Great Lakes Airlines, which flies two of the three daily flights called for in its contract, has attracted an average of two passengers per day.

To begin drawing people back to the airport, Cape Air's one-way fare to St. Louis will be $49, Haynes said. There will be no restrictions or early purchase requirements. For frequent users, a book of 10 tickets good at any time will be available for $457, she said.

Cape Air's contract calls for four round-trip flights daily on weekdays and two flights on Saturdays and Sundays. Cape Air will fly twin-engine Cessna 402 airplanes, capable of carrying nine passengers. The airline will be given a federal subsidy of up to $1.47 million for Cape Girardeau if it completes all flights.

The airport will be ready when Cape Air begins flying, airport manager Bruce Loy said. "We're as excited as we can be. We have just been kind of sitting on go for several weeks waiting for the Department of Transportation to make this announcement."

Cape Air has already logged its schedule into its computers as well as those serving travel agencies and Internet ticketing sites. Within a few days, Haynes said, passengers will be able to check the schedule and book flights.

"We are going to make a splash," Haynes said, noting that the company will play on the Cape Air name as it touts its service. "We will be letting people know we are here and what we are all about. We are different. We are quirky. And our emphasis is on service."

Cape Air doesn't charge baggage fees and it does not charge fees for changing flights, she said.

Cape Air was one of five carriers bidding to provide service to Cape Girardeau. During the bidding process, Cape Girardeau was grouped with five other locations. The department chose Air Choice One, a Farmington, Mo., carrier trying to build its business, as the airline for Decatur, Ill., and Burlington, Iowa., because Air Choice One said it would provide flights to Chicago as well as St. Louis. If the company does not commence flights from Decatur to St. Louis by Dec. 15 or to Chicago by Jan. 15, Cape Air will also serve that community.

Great Lakes Airlines will continue to provide flights from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., the department said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, Cape Girardeau, MO