MARKETING OF TWE NEEDED, FORMER AIRPORT MANAGER SAYS

If Trans World Express won't market itself, the city of Cape Girardeau should tackle the task, former airport manager Randy Holdman says.

Holdman, who was recently named to the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Board of Directors, said the city needs to do a better job of promoting the airport throughout the region.

Holdman maintained there is a "tremendous airline market" in Southeast Missouri.

But he said, "People aren't flying out of Cape. They are flying out of Memphis, Nashville and St. Louis.

"Cape has never tapped into it and sold it."

Holdman said the city needs to boost boardings for TWE if it ever wants to attract another airline.

Holdman managed the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport from June 1993 to August 1994.

He resigned to take a job with Drury Southwest. Holdman is chief pilot and works in real estate development for the Cape Girardeau company.

As airport manager, Holdman constantly was pushing TWE to provide better service. When TWE canceled flights, he complained about it to everyone, including the Federal Aviation Administration.

"I badgered the hell out of them," he recalled.

Holdman convinced the airline to offer ticket giveaways as an inducement for passengers to fill out surveys.

Holdman has 30 years of experience as a military and commercial pilot.

He plans to offer his advice as a member of the airport board. But he said he won't second guess everything his successor, Greg Chenoweth, is doing as airport manager.

"I really want to be positive and constructive," Holdman said.

Chenoweth isn't concerned about having Holdman on the board. "I'm hoping it will help out. I can work with anybody," he said.