ADDED FLIGHTS ARE GOOD NEWS FOR AIRPORT

The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport is flying high from this week's announcement. Trans World Express will add one flight a day Sunday through Friday at the Cape Girardeau Airport. In addition, a Saturday flight will return. The new flights will begin Oct. 1.

The additional flights are directly tied to an increased subsidy from the federal government. Beginning Oct. 1., federal policy calls for at least three arrivals and departures for every rural airport covered under its Essential Air Service program.

The local airport has long struggled to increase boardings. But it's a catch-22. Without more flights with better times, it's hard boost traffic. Many travelers simply prefer to drive the two hours to St. Louis if the layover is too long.

The airport can promote itself all it wants, but the issue of additional flights is not one of local control.

In fact, the additional subsidies are tied to a new federal law that mandated foreign airlines pay a fee for flying over U.S. soil. The law earmarks $50 million annually for the Essential Air program. That's double the former allocation. A hearty thanks goes out to Sen. Christopher Bond for his leadership in passing this new law.

All the TWE flights from Cape Girardeau go to St. Louis and connect with TWA flights. The cost of tickets would be about $40, which is pretty reasonable considering overnight parking charges in St. Louis can be avoided. This development could provide a real boost to promotion efforts at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.