Boston Herald, 5/2/01
US Airways Inc. has added its name to a fast-growing list of airlines eager
to fly out of Hanscom Field, in Bedford.
The Arlington, VA airline notified the Massachusetts Port Authority
yesterday that it wants to fly three daily round-trip flights between
Hanscom and Philadelphia International Airport, where US Airways operates a
hub.
US Airways may smell blood in the water following the recent bankruptcy
filing of Shuttle America Inc., which which flies between Hanscom and
Trenton, N.J., just outside Philly. US Airways' Hanscom entry would appear
to be a direct assault on Shuttle America's Trenton business, which
continues out of Hanscom despite filing for bankruptcy last month.
US Airways would use Dash-8 turbo-prop planes for the service, and could
start flights as soon as three months from now, Massport spokesman Jose
Juves said. US Airways spokesman Richard Weintraub confirmed the company's
Hanscom interest, but said it's "premature" to discuss specifics.
The airline would join at least two other airlines looking to launch service
out of Hanscom. Boston-Maine Airways, an affiliate of Pan American Airlines
Corp., seeks to fly eight daily round trips to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard
and Nantucket and possibly Westchester, N.Y. Midway Airlines Corp. aims to
fly three-times-daily round trips between Hanscom and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
and could up that to five flights. Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines is also
eyeing the suburban airport.
"Next it will be the Concorde," quipped Anna Winter, executive
director of
Save Our Heritage, which is battling the flights. Activists say they fear
an "incremental creep" in the number of flights will harm area
historic
sites. They've appealed the FAA's approval of Shuttle America flights in
federal court.
US Airways first expressed interest in Hanscom a year ago, with plans to fly
to LaGuardia Airport in New York. But limits on takeoff and landing slots
in New York scrubbed those plans.
Sources say Shuttle America had at one point talked with US Airways about a
combination, although those talks are not believed to be active. The
company had also talked with Midway. At a meeting in neighboring Concord
with area selectmen last week, Shuttle CEO David Hackett said a
"significant" investment deal will be unveiled within two weeks.
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