By Derek Spellman
Globe Staff Writer
Fares, flight frequency and flight connections were cited as paramount issues for city and business officials awaiting Joplin's next airline, although they would not say which of two prospective airlines they prefer.
Two airlines, Mesa Air Group/Air Midwest and RegionsAir Inc., have submitted bids to the federal government to become Joplin's next carrier through the Essential Air Service program, which helps smaller cities maintain commercial passenger service. The city's current airline, Trans States Airlines, announced in February that it planned to withdraw from five smaller Midwestern markets, including Joplin.
The U.S. Department of Transportation will decide which of the two airlines will replace Trans States Airlines, and it has asked the city of Joplin for its preference, said Steve Stockam, manager of the Joplin Regional Airport.
The city must forward its recommendation by Friday. Stockam said he could not yet comment on what that recommendation will be.
Officials from Leggett & Platt Inc. often use the Joplin Regional Airport, but Tracey Pressler, the company's travel services manager, said she could not comment on the proposals advanced by Mesa Air Group or RegionsAir.
She did say the airport would need a carrier with competitive fares and attractive flight-connection options to lure more passengers.
Leggett & Platt will continue to be a strong airport customer regardless of which company is chosen, Pressler said.
"Anything they get, we will utilize," she said.
Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, could not be reached for comment Monday.
Stockam said the city has gathered comments about the two airlines from the Airport Advisory Board and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce as it weighs which of the two airlines to recommend. The city's recommendation will be one of five factors, including bid costs and agreements with other airlines, considered by federal officials.
Joplin officials have looked at how the two potential airlines could help wean the city off the Essential Air Service program, Stockam said. Although the federal subsidy helps smaller communities retain air service, it allows only one airline to operate.
Stockam cited airfares and the frequency of available flights as two factors central to boosting passenger counts and escaping the EAS designation.
Both Mesa Air Group/Air Midwest and RegionsAir have offered packages that would increase the number of flights offered at the airport. Trans States Airlines offers 12 round-trip flights to St. Louis each week.
RegionsAir has proposed a total of 19 nonstop round trips per week to St. Louis for an annual subsidy of about $1.34 million, according to an April 11 letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the city.
Mesa Air Group/Air Midwest has advanced a bid with two options.
Under the first option, Mesa would offer 18 nonstop round trips per week to Kansas City for an annual federal subsidy of about $850,000.
Under the second option, Mesa would offer 12 nonstop round trips a week to Dallas/Forth Worth plus six nonstop round trips a week to Kansas City for a total annual subsidy of about $1.15 million.
A little history
Mesa Air Group of Phoenix, Ariz., operating as Air Midwest, submitted a bid to be Joplin's air carrier in 2004 but lost out to Trans States Airlines. Joplin officials recommended Trans States because Mesa failed to answer a number of questions the city posed about the airline's proposal.
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