Commuter flights trying to gain travelers' attention

The terminal at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport was less crowded in 2004 than it was in 2003. But the current year could show improvement, said airport manager Bruce Loy.

Loy said, "The numbers were down early in the year, but they've been moving up a bit in March."

During the first four months of 2004, 1,997 people flew American Connection commuter airline flights to the St. Louis airport. During the same period in 2003, 2,411 people took the flights, according to city records.

The city had been looking at adding additional daily flights from the Cape Girardeau airport as a means of securing more federal funding. Travelers say the flight schedule didn't make catching connections easy enough.

American Connection is the only commuter airline that provides flights to and from Cape Girardeau and all the flights arrive in St. Louis' Lambert International Airport.

Several years ago, the airline began implementing cost-cutting measures that reduced the number of American Airlines flights out of St. Louis, making it harder for passengers to schedule convenient flights.

Loy said American Airlines has since added a more destination flights, "which means a little more overall connections."

Loy and American Connection officials have changed some of the departure and arrival times so there is less layover between connecting flights as means of winning back people who now drive to St. Louis, Memphis and even Nashville to catch flights

"And we're still trying to add a fourth flight," said Loy. "That would increase our boardings."

Ray Duffey, owner of Bootheel Area Rapid Transportation (BART) in Cape Girardeau, operates vans that provide regular transportation to airports. He has pick-up spots in seven cities.

"Sometimes people can make better connections for flights out of St. Louis if we take them there," said Duffey. "Also, the pricing from here to St. Louis is a consideration. It costs more to fly, and some people just don't like to ride on small airplanes."

Duffey said many of his passengers go to St. Louis to see doctors or visit friends, and getting there and back via vans is simpler than having to go through airport security.

Craig Billmeyer, a Cape Girardeau attorney who sometimes uses the commuter airline for business but not leisure travel, said he believes there are three reasons that impact the decision on using the local airport. First is the cost issue.

"Most people will tell you it is too expensive to fly from the Cape airport," said Billmeyer. "In light of the recent advertising, that may or may not be true, especially when you consider the cost of parking and gas. Second, some people just hesitate to fly on small aircraft."

Billmeyer said the third reason is the timing for connecting flights and the fear that the initial flight may be delayed or canceled.

Carolyn Kempf, president of Elite Travel in Cape Girardeau, said it's pretty well known that local people who travel for business or pleasure often go outside Cape for flights. She said people like to drive to the St. Louis airport because it's easy to get there. Also, other airlines at Lambert Airport often have more competitive rates than what American Airlines offers.

Kempf said some hotels near the airport offer short- and long-term parking rates that are significantly lower than parking rates at the airport, and people take advantage of that.

"If people are going to Florida, they drive to the Memphis airport because of low-cost carriers such as Airtran," said Kempf. "Some, but not too many people, fly out of Nashville. Rarely is it cheap enough to justify the long drive."