Cape airport usage off to slow start

Since the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport resumed passenger service May 19, business has been slow.

As of Tuesday, 16 passengers have flown on Great Lakes Airlines, the latest airline to serve the area.

Because of the low number of passengers who have purchased tickets, airport manager Bruce Loy said, the majority of the scheduled flights so far have been canceled. The most passengers any flight has had is four; the least is one.

But Loy expects service to steadily increase later this month.

"In the past, people would buy tickets seven to 14 days in advance," Loy said. "But with the economy forcing the rising airline ticket prices, people are now choosing to purchase them 30 or more days beforehand to get a cheaper fare. Now that we have been back in business for a month, people have had time to buy their tickets well in advance and, as a result, the usage should increase."

He said that by next week, most of the 19-seat Beech 1900D airliners will be at one-fourth capacity. Later this month, Loy believes the flights may be at least half full.

"Even after three weeks of service, most people don't know that we are up and running again," Loy said. "It's taken us awhile to get the word out to the public because we just now are advertising the service. But once they realize we've restarted service, our customers hopefully will start flying out of here again."

Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Great Lakes Airlines last month replaced Big Sky Airlines, which discontinued service in Cape Girardeau and other eastern U.S. markets Jan. 7. Big Sky, which had served Cape Girardeau for less than two months, cited high fuel costs and other problems.

Currently, Great Lakes operates one morning and afternoon flight from Cape Girardeau to St. Louis. Departure times are 8:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. Return times are 7:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. A one-way ticket costs between $69 and $79.

Once the airline acquires aircraft from Mesa Airlines, which is phasing out its 20 19-seat turboprops, a third flight will be added to the schedule. This will enable passengers flying from Cape Girardeau to catch an earlier connection flight in St. Louis, Loy said.

"We're laying a foundation for the future," Loy said. "When we reach full capacity, we'll be able to serve our customers more efficiently and give them a wider variety of options."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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