Airtran To End Ric To Phl Flights

dscott12

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Dec 28, 2004
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Richmond's low-fare air link to Philadelphia will end next month, grounded by disappointing passenger numbers and soaring energy costs.
An AirTran executive said the two daily nonstop flights would stop Nov. 16, the same day the carrier adds a fifth flight to Atlanta from Richmond.

"By canceling that, it gives us the ability to continue [to improve] the Atlanta schedule, which is important," said Kevin Healy, AirTran's vice president of plan- ning and sales.

Healy stressed that the cancellation shouldn't be viewed as "a harbinger of things not going well" with AirTran, which started flying in Richmond more than three months ago.

AirTran officials had to respond to a poor response to the Philadelphia flights as well as the added fuel costs, which Healy said are at "historic levels," more than doubling over the past year.

Healy wouldn't discuss the number of passengers making the Philadelphia connection. The numbers were getting better, he said, but were "not enough."

Philadelphia was always considered a "more experimental" market than Atlanta or planned Florida destinations.

In the current pricey operating environment, Healy said, "you can't spend that much time developing that market."

AirTran is also coping with delays in jet deliveries caused by a strike at the Boeing Co., further complicating its growth plans.

Passengers who have booked Richmond-Philadelphia flights should be contacted and given the option of rebooking through Atlanta, Healy said. Or they can get a refund or credit for future trips.

The airport issued a statement saying it was "encouraged by AirTran Airways' recent schedule adjustment, building on a successful work in progress with an additional flight to Atlanta."


Along with planned flights to Orlando and Fort Myers, Fla., "AirTran will offer seven daily departures, its highest total ever from RIC," the statement said.

Healy said the decision to scrub the Philadelphia flights "doesn't dim our desire to add service to the Northeast, and continue to grow in Richmond."