SEESING SAYS TWE IS STAYING

Cape Girardeau Airport Manager Mark Seesing said Tuesday the airport's sole commercial airline does not intend to leave despite the company's notification that it would end service here.

Trans World Express last month filed a letter of notification with the federal Department of Transportation that it intended to end air service to Cape Girardeau. But Seesing told members of the Airport Advisory Board Tuesday that the company is merely seeking subsidy to operate here.

Cape Girardeau qualifies for the DOT's Essential Air Service program, which means an airline must service the airport. By filing notification that it would end service, TWE can qualify for a federal subsidy to provide that service.

The DOT will seek other airline service for the city during a 90-day period, and if none is secured, would provide the subsidy.

Seesing said ultimately TWE's notice could benefit the airline as well as the city. He said additional airlines with destinations other than St. Louis, TWE's only connection with Cape Girardeau, might be willing to operate at the airport in addition to TWE.

"We're not trying to run (TWE) off, we're just trying to improve our image," Seesing said.

Seesing told the board he has contacted airlines in the past few weeks hoping to secure additional air service in Cape Girardeau.

Some of the airlines contacted include Northwest Airlink, which previously serviced the airport to and from Memphis, Tenn., American Eagle out of Nashville, Tenn., Com Air Airlines from Cincinnati, Ohio, Direct Air from Gary, Ind., and Lone Star from Fort Worth, Texas.

Seesing said Lone Star will submit a proposal to the DOT for providing air service between Cape Girardeau, Memphis and St. Louis. Also, Direct Air, which could provide service from the city to Chicago's Midway Airport will "look into the possibility of connecting with Cape" next spring.

Seesing said he has sent a letter to several local industries that regularly use air service asking that they indicate the type of service and destinations that would best serve them.

The data would be used in trying to attract airlines to the city, he said. The airport board took no action on the matter, but members said they supported Seesing's proposal.