Opponents of airport expansion applaud move

By Associated Press, 06/06/01

BEDFORD -- US Airways has decided not to serve Hanscom Field because of community concern over new flights, the company said Wednesday.

"We really appreciate US Airways' willingness to listen to the voice of the community," said Marty Pepper Aisenberg, projects director for Save Our Heritage, a citizen's group that opposes Hanscom expansion.

"It's a victory for any kind of citizen's group fighting any seemingly insurmountable odds," he said.

The Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Hanscom, said it will continue to try to lure commercial airlines to the airport.

"We're not going to back away from the challenges of commercial aviation," said Jose Juves, Massport spokesman. "We're going to continue to court airlines and have them look at Worcester Regional Airport," he said.

Massport has talked to US Airways about operating flights from Worcester and will continue to do so, Juves said.

In May, nearly 400 people jammed into Bedford Town Hall and forced the adjournment of a meeting to hear US Airways proposals to fly from Hanscom.

Residents in Bedford, and neighboring Lexington, Concord and Lincoln object to increased commercial use of the airport, saying it will harm nearby historic sites.

"Clearly the degree of community concern over the increased flying at Hanscom was part of the decision," said Dave Castelveter, company spokesman. "We thought it would also be inappropriate to incur the costs and to spend the time to begin the new service."

Castelveter said US Airways is willing to listen to Massport about starting service in Worcester.

Several other airlines are looking to expand at Hanscom, including Midway Airlines, Shuttle America and Boston-Maine Airlines.

The new US Airways routes would have brought the number of daily departures to 35, 11 more than the limit studied in an environmental review that had been completed. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Hanscom, had planned to conduct another review.

Expansion opponents have gone to federal court to get the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a thorough review of commercial service at Hanscom under the National Historic Preservation Act.