Jump to content

JAZZ | Regional News Aplenty


Guest Nova Zemlya

Recommended Posts

Guest Nova Zemlya

Linking city's land, air

DAVID NICKLE More from this author

May. 25, 2003

After spending the past six months in a court-induced holding pattern, the Port Authority's grand plans for expanding Toronto's other airport -- the City Centre Airport at the west end of the Toronto Islands -- could be poised for a landing.

Earlier this month, the City of Toronto and the Port Authority reached an agreement in a $1.2-billion lawsuit over 612 acres of waterfront land.

The settlement of that lawsuit was all that stood between what the Port Authority regards as a crucial step toward turning the modest regional airport into the powerful transportation nexus it can become: the construction of a fixed link between the mainland and the island airport.

http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/etobicoke/story/1091276p-1301680c.html

Note: It must be remembered that the settlement of the lawsuit is the means by which the Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO) will acquire the necessary funds to build a fixed link, and expand the airport. That means a transfer of $1.2 Billion of municpal taxpayer funds are being funnelled into this project.

Robert Deluce, the promoter of Regional Airlines Co. (REGCO) (not much originality in names amongst the rich and savvy) plays only a small part in the scheme which is much larger than just an airport debacle. In a sense, the city of Toronto is undertaking on a vast scale what smaller airport authorities and chamber of commerce associations in small locales have undertaken in the attempt to lure "low cost" operators other than the mothercorp.

TEDCO is also deeply involved in attempting to establish world class sound stages for film production. Again, there is overcapacity in this field as well as in the transportation sector. The entry of political capital into this scenario could lead to economic difficulty for both film production and transportation sectors as there is already increasing competition for diminishing dollars. The value of the greenback is of exceeding importance ot this whole scenario.

US Airways' plan to build a regional future

Carrier's plans depend on whether business travelers will continue to pay top dollar for frequent flights

Sunday, May 25, 2003

By Frank Reeves, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

US Airways has made it clear that, if it is to remain a hub carrier in Pittsburgh, it will do so on the wings of regional jets. Earlier this month, the airline struck deals worth $4.3 billion for the purchase of 170 regional jets and indicated that many of those will land in Pittsburgh, slated to serve as headquarters for its newly created MidAltantic Airways unit, the centerpiece of the airline's plans to expand regional jet operations.

But some question whether the airline's turnaround strategy, built on deploying hundreds of regional jets seating 50 to 75, will work in an environment of increasing demands for the cheapest possible tickets, even from business clients once willing to pay top dollar to book flights at the last minute.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03145/186722.stm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.



×
×
  • Create New...