Airline To Switch Service From Reading To Lancaste

fly clt

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Mar 3, 2004
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Airline to switch service from Reading to Lancaster
By Patrick Burns
Intelligencer Journal

Published: Jun 22, 2004 9:25 AM EST



LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - One airport's loss is another airport's gain. When Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines launches commercial air service at Lancaster Airport in three months, it won't have to move its
planes very far.
Mesa will discontinue its three daily flights to Pittsburgh from Reading Regional Airport on Sept. 4, one day before it begins service here as US Airways Express.

Reading is losing service after 47 years because it does not qualify for Federal Aviation Authority Essential Air Service (EAS) funding offered to airports more than 70 miles from a major hub. Reading Regional is 61 miles from Philadelphia International Airport.

Colgan Air pulled out of Lancaster in April 2003, leaving the local airport without commercial service for the first time in 50 years. That followed an FAA rejection of the airport's request for a $645,000 EAS grant because it is 68 miles from Philadelphia's airport.

But with the help of heavy lobbying from Sen. Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, the U.S. Department of Transportation reevaluated the mileage between Philadelphia and Lancaster and in March deemed it eligible for the grants.

Also at its monthly meeting Monday, the Lancaster Airport Authority announced Kissel Hill Road between Millport Road and Woods Drive will be closed due to construction for two weeks beginning today.

The authority accepted the resignation of treasurer Boyer L. Veitch effective this month. Veitch had served the airport for 11 years.

Hempt Brothers Inc., Camp Hill, tendered a low bid of $6.95 million to construct the runway extension project. The bid cannot be offered until the airport receives full funding for the project, which is currently about $2.5 million short.

Airport manager David Eberly said FAA engineer Oscar Sanchez is confident that money will be found to complete the $8 million project, for which the state and county will chip in about $202,000 each.
 
fly clt said:
... But with the help of heavy lobbying from Sen. Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, the U.S. Department of Transportation reevaluated the mileage between Philadelphia and Lancaster and in March deemed it eligible for the grants...
"Reevaluated the mileage?"

Did Philly or Lancaster move?
 
Bear96 said:
"Reevaluated the mileage?"

Did Philly or Lancaster move?
The LNS APO convinced the DOT that, based on the highways and roadways available between LNS and PHL, the mileage was really over the threshold required to receive the EAS grants. A bit of political arm twisting? You bet!
 
Actually, as provided in the law, the governor certified to the DOT that the "most usual route" was more than 70 miles, even though shorter (but slower?) routes exist.