- Nov 6, 2002
- 1,881
- 1,614
Pittsburgh Selected as Hub and Headquarters For New, Low-Fare Airline
Tuesday October 14, 11:30 am ET
Plans call for company to employ 500 full-time workers next year and 2,100 within five years
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from a new, low-fare airline, presently operating under the working name "Project Roam," today announced the details of a plan that calls for the company to be headquartered in Pittsburgh and within five years serve 39 major destinations with non-stop service at prices as low as $49 for nearby destinations such as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and $99 for cross-country flights to cities such as Las Vegas and Dallas. As projected, the company will hire within five years 2,100 employees, including 500 full-time workers next year.
"Southwestern Pennsylvania represents the best opportunity of any region in the nation for the formation of a new, value-driven airline," said Project Roam Chairman Edward Beauvais, who founded America West Airlines more than 20 years ago and served as the company's chairman and CEO for 11 years. "Pittsburgh International Airport is a world-class facility and Pittsburgh is a world-class city. But for too long its residents, as well as the more than three million people in the region and portions of Ohio and West Virginia who rely on this airport for their traveling needs, have been denied the benefits of competition. Our plan is to change that, as well this market's expectations of the flying experience."
"It is with great pride and excitement that I stand here today with so many distinguished members of this community," said Travis Tanner, President and CEO of Project Roam. "We plan to earn the respect and trust of the business community and the flying public here in Pittsburgh and throughout the region by providing professional and efficient airline service. Our discount pricing affords customers the opportunity to travel to major destinations throughout the nation for about the same price a family would spend to see a movie. In fact, since each passenger seat on our aircraft will be equipped with personal entertainment centers that include live television and pay-per- view movies, families can watch new releases on the way to vacation."
Joining Beauvais and Tanner, who is a 30-year veteran of the travel and leisure industry, were Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey, former chairman of the Allegheny Conference and Carnegie Mellon University Charles Queenan, Jr.; former chairman of Alcoa and Treasury Secretary of the United States Paul O'Neil; former chairman of PNC Tom O'Brien and Citizens Bank President Ralph Papa.
"Project Roam's commitment to locate its corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh is testament to the viability of this market and Pittsburgh International Airport," said Roddey. "I am impressed with the company's business plan and encouraged by the experience and energy of its leadership team, who have demonstrated their relentless determination to make Project Roam a successful venture and, equally important, their desire to become members of this community."
Project Roam's Business Plan calls for the company to be operational by June 2004, when it expects to offer up to five daily flights to each of the following destinations: Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Orlando, Fla. and other destinations in Florida. The entire aircraft fleet will consist of brand-new, Boeing 737-700 "Next Generation" airliners, each configured with 12 business class and 114 coach seats. The company plans to maintain a fleet of eight planes next year and expects to have over 120 daily flights within five years, when the airline plans to serve 39 major destinations.
While a key component of Project Roam's strategy is to offer fares that are generally 30 percent to 70 percent lower than what is available in its targeted markets, the airline will offer superior service and accommodations. Each flight will include a unique in-flight beverage service, consisting of complimentary wines and microbrews, all of which can be enjoyed by passengers in the comforts of leather seats -- each of which will offer personal entertainment centers, including live television, digital music, pay-per-view movies and electronic games. Passengers will have the ability to select their seat assignment on every flight and could be upgraded to business class for an additional fee of only $25 to $75, depending on the destination.
Next year, the company plans to hire 500 full-time workers at an average salary of $31,500. Within five years, the company plans to maintain a workforce of 2,100.
"Ed Beauvais and his team may be new to Pittsburgh, but they have quickly discovered what our region has to offer, including a strategic location and a highly skilled and dedicated work force," said Queenan. "I am thrilled the company has selected Pittsburgh to headquarter its operations and look forward to their arrival into this community."
Citizens Bank President Ralph Papa echoed Queenan's sentiments. "As president of a company that two years ago invested more than two billion dollars into this community when Citizens Bank purchased the retail operations of Mellon Financial Group, it gives me great pleasure to see a company plan to make such a significant investment in our region."
Oh my, are the folks in PIT so desperate that they will buy this guy's snake oil?
Interesting that West Pac is not mentioned, nor Ed's work to try to bring a low fair airline to Utica, or the fact that he is a complete joke in the industry
Tuesday October 14, 11:30 am ET
Plans call for company to employ 500 full-time workers next year and 2,100 within five years
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from a new, low-fare airline, presently operating under the working name "Project Roam," today announced the details of a plan that calls for the company to be headquartered in Pittsburgh and within five years serve 39 major destinations with non-stop service at prices as low as $49 for nearby destinations such as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and $99 for cross-country flights to cities such as Las Vegas and Dallas. As projected, the company will hire within five years 2,100 employees, including 500 full-time workers next year.
"Southwestern Pennsylvania represents the best opportunity of any region in the nation for the formation of a new, value-driven airline," said Project Roam Chairman Edward Beauvais, who founded America West Airlines more than 20 years ago and served as the company's chairman and CEO for 11 years. "Pittsburgh International Airport is a world-class facility and Pittsburgh is a world-class city. But for too long its residents, as well as the more than three million people in the region and portions of Ohio and West Virginia who rely on this airport for their traveling needs, have been denied the benefits of competition. Our plan is to change that, as well this market's expectations of the flying experience."
"It is with great pride and excitement that I stand here today with so many distinguished members of this community," said Travis Tanner, President and CEO of Project Roam. "We plan to earn the respect and trust of the business community and the flying public here in Pittsburgh and throughout the region by providing professional and efficient airline service. Our discount pricing affords customers the opportunity to travel to major destinations throughout the nation for about the same price a family would spend to see a movie. In fact, since each passenger seat on our aircraft will be equipped with personal entertainment centers that include live television and pay-per- view movies, families can watch new releases on the way to vacation."
Joining Beauvais and Tanner, who is a 30-year veteran of the travel and leisure industry, were Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey, former chairman of the Allegheny Conference and Carnegie Mellon University Charles Queenan, Jr.; former chairman of Alcoa and Treasury Secretary of the United States Paul O'Neil; former chairman of PNC Tom O'Brien and Citizens Bank President Ralph Papa.
"Project Roam's commitment to locate its corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh is testament to the viability of this market and Pittsburgh International Airport," said Roddey. "I am impressed with the company's business plan and encouraged by the experience and energy of its leadership team, who have demonstrated their relentless determination to make Project Roam a successful venture and, equally important, their desire to become members of this community."
Project Roam's Business Plan calls for the company to be operational by June 2004, when it expects to offer up to five daily flights to each of the following destinations: Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Orlando, Fla. and other destinations in Florida. The entire aircraft fleet will consist of brand-new, Boeing 737-700 "Next Generation" airliners, each configured with 12 business class and 114 coach seats. The company plans to maintain a fleet of eight planes next year and expects to have over 120 daily flights within five years, when the airline plans to serve 39 major destinations.
While a key component of Project Roam's strategy is to offer fares that are generally 30 percent to 70 percent lower than what is available in its targeted markets, the airline will offer superior service and accommodations. Each flight will include a unique in-flight beverage service, consisting of complimentary wines and microbrews, all of which can be enjoyed by passengers in the comforts of leather seats -- each of which will offer personal entertainment centers, including live television, digital music, pay-per-view movies and electronic games. Passengers will have the ability to select their seat assignment on every flight and could be upgraded to business class for an additional fee of only $25 to $75, depending on the destination.
Next year, the company plans to hire 500 full-time workers at an average salary of $31,500. Within five years, the company plans to maintain a workforce of 2,100.
"Ed Beauvais and his team may be new to Pittsburgh, but they have quickly discovered what our region has to offer, including a strategic location and a highly skilled and dedicated work force," said Queenan. "I am thrilled the company has selected Pittsburgh to headquarter its operations and look forward to their arrival into this community."
Citizens Bank President Ralph Papa echoed Queenan's sentiments. "As president of a company that two years ago invested more than two billion dollars into this community when Citizens Bank purchased the retail operations of Mellon Financial Group, it gives me great pleasure to see a company plan to make such a significant investment in our region."
Oh my, are the folks in PIT so desperate that they will buy this guy's snake oil?
Interesting that West Pac is not mentioned, nor Ed's work to try to bring a low fair airline to Utica, or the fact that he is a complete joke in the industry
