BostonHerald.com
Thursday, June 7, 2001

US Airways passes on Hanscom
by Eric Convey

Residents of towns near Hanscom Field in Bedford scored a victory yesterday,
fending off a new airline's airport plans.

Citing ``community concern,'' US Airways scrapped plans to fly three daily
round-trip flights from Hanscom to Philadelphia and, later, three more to
New York.

``We shouted loud enough. Somebody has heard, and it happens to be U.S.
Airways,'' said Anna Winter. Winter helped lead a citizens' revolt against
the plan to use Hanscom to relieve pressure on Logan Airport.

Tensions between townspeople and proponents of expanded flights from
Hanscom - including Massport and airlines - boiled over three weeks ago when
a meeting of about 400 people deteriorated into what one official called a
``near-riot.''

The residents say traffic and noise from planes would destroy the atmosphere
at the nearby Minuteman National Historic Park. The state estimates about 1
million people visit it each year.

US Airways, which planned to use turboprop-powered planes at Hanscom, said
yesterday that ``it would be inappropriate to incur the costs and spend the
time necessary to develop the new service,'' given the community outcry it
has provoked.

``These issues are best addressed at the local level,'' the statement added.

Despite US Airways' pullout, passenger service continues at Hanscom, once a
busy military airfield. Today, Hanscom hosts only a fraction of the number
of flights that it did 30 years ago.

Shuttle America flies from Hanscom to New York City and Buffalo, N.Y.;
Greensboro, N.C.; and Trenton, N.J.

What's more, North Carolina-based Midway Airlines, as well as Boston-Maine
Airways Corp., an affiliate of Pan American Airlines, and another regional
carrier are weighing routes from Hanscom to cities in the Northeast, Cape
Cod and the Islands.

Massport supported the expansion of flights out of Hanscom. But yesterday,
an agency spokesman said Massport is focusing efforts on getting carriers to
fly out of Worcester.

``We'll be approaching them again about Worcester,'' Jose Juves said.

Massport also will ask US Airways to consider expanding Worcester service,
he said. The airline only serves Philadelphia from Worcester.


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