I don't see a net gain here. Allegiant is just syphoning existing passengers away from US Air and Delta/Northwest. Sad, but there is no incentive for the legacy carriers to stay in Bangor when the city has aligned themselves so closely with, as Mr. Boyd stated so well, "A travel company that owns airplanes."

I am not sure this is good news for the Bangor Regional Airport.

Well said PJRamsay, This was the MAJOR announcement the television networks have been talking about for the last couple of days. I was hoping for a change in management. Maybe the City Council will react after we loose one or two more legacy carriers.

When will they start Mon-Thurs-Sun non-stops to Las Vegas?

This is fantastic news. I use them 4 or 5 times a year, cheap flight for a long golf or fishing weekend, my only complaint up until now was they only went into Sanford, and I usually stay in Tampa. Problem solved.

Peter, agreed on all counts - no net gain at all. And thanks for bringing up Mike Boyd. Although Mike can't always be counted on to provide solid advice, his weekly column this week offers advice that BGR management and community leaders should understand and recognize. In his column, Boyd talks of a midwestern airport that "recently announced record enplanements". He points out that at this very same airport by October "network carrier access will have plummeted a dangerous 18% in capacity year over year". The increase in flights came from those "travel company's that own planes". One could easily subsitute "Bangor" for "midwestern airport". The point is that these "quantitative" announcements mask the real "qualitative" issue. Sure, it is nice to be able to fly to Tampa for a vacation. But in terms of economic sustainability and development, getting here (and back) from just about everywhere else is really what matters. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to apologize to a supplier for the difficulty and cost of coming here to do business. This fall it gets even worse.

So, what to do??? For starters, we need effective management at the airport. By effective, I mean someone who will:

A) Be honest and forthright about the state of affairs and the "qualitative" pickle (with regards to air service access with national carriers) that our airport finds itself in.

B) Get out of his/her office long enough to repair the bridges that have been burned with the carriers over the last several years.

C) Get out into the community and engage in straight talk about what needs to be done collectively to develop sustainable air service.

D) Get out and partner with local businesses who use (or formally used) BGR for business travel and work collaboratively on ways to keep flyers using BGR. Be willing to think outside the box!

E) Be willing to explore all options including subsidies and other incentives.

F) Have the vision to realize that you can't blame the economy forever for continued declines in service (especially when the economy rebounds and those flights don't return).

Bangor city leaders, regional economic development officers, local business leaders, and others concerned about the economic viability of the Bangor region should demand this level of service from airport management and not settle for less. Sadly, I don't see anyone currently on the payroll meeting these qualifications.

By the way, anyone interested in reading Mike Boyd's column (referenced above) can find it at: http://www.aviationplanning.com/asrc1.htm

K_from_Veazie - okay, now you're just freakin' me out. I have been saying the same thing for years.

Last week, when the airport made their "contest" announcement I went on the website (flybangor) and put in my guess for the "new" service. My guess was St. Petersburgh. Why? Because the airport pendulum swings between Allegiant now and Pan Am then. Back and forth, back and forth.

All of our eggs are in the Allegiant basket. A carrier that Mr. Boyd says, "Hates airports...hates anyone that will try and take money from them." My question is - what is Bangor promising or giving to Allegiant? I know it is not just free ice. What is the Allegiant incentive that the other carriers in Bangor are not getting? And how long before those carriers say so long?

Delta is currently trying to void a contract with one of their feeder carriers. If the court ruling is in Delta's favor, they will need additional aircraft to cover the loss. They won't be buying them, they will be reallocating them from low yield markets.

I totally agree with K_From_Veazie, I have to travel quite a bit for work, and flying to Florida isn't going to cut it. I have to fly to NYC, or Philly for example. I can't fly to FL to get there. Please don't get me wrong, I am truely thankful that an airline has come into the area to fly persons from Maine to FL, it is a market that is needed. However, one needs to look at how to bring other airlines into the area to offer service to other areas. Someone needs to look at the reality that you may be filling the plane with persons going to FL, but persons take how many vacations a year? How often are business travellers are using the transportation system? BIA is a little closer an airline has actually expanded its services, but far from utopia.

At least on Concord Coach, you get free movies, room between seats, free snacks in Portland and they drop you right at South Station if you use Amtrak or at what ever termanal you want at Logan Airport. by using the bus yu save money on the tickets, and parking fees. Would I fly out of Bangor? Not on your life. I don't have that kind of money.

I am no expert in aviation, but it seems to me that Allegient is a vacation airline, their business model is quite different than the other carriers, and as near as I can tell, they fill darn near every seat on every flight, so I'm not sure that their operation in Bangor is hinged on some sweet deal with the city.

They offer an affordable flight for a vacation destination, something that a lot of people could not have afforded up untill they arrived.

As a frequent business flyer who chose to move back to the area several years ago, I've seen a continuing loss of flight options combined with steadily rising fares. I too think it's about time for a management change at BIA. I hold no personal grudge against Rebecca Hupp (I wouldn't know her if I ran into her), but I have noticed an unwillingness for her to meet the problems head on. When we had the nearly back to back loss of Continental and Delta's flights to Boston, Ms. Huff was no where to be seen. She sent her assistant director to make those announcements, obviously trying to shield herself from "bad news". Now we have a vacationer's airline announcing two flights a week to Tampa and she's all over it. Yeah, Ms. Hupp, that solves all the problems!

Bangor city council members - it's time for a change in BIA management. Any hopes of bringing significant new businesses to the area are totally hinged to more frequent (and less expensive) air service in and out of Bangor. Take away the Allegiant Air flights (too sporadic and too few destinations for business people to use regularly) and we'll be left with only NY Kennedy, Detroit, and Philly starting in December. You can't even fly to Boston to connect - how ridiculous is that? You can't be the economic engine for half the state of Maine with 5-6 flights per day connecting to the major carriers. Hell, we'll soon have more troop landings than commercial aircraft.

This is good news that Bangor is seeing a spike in travel - This has to be good to fill the new 10,000 seat Auditorium -- He he he --- Rebecca Hupp needs to go -

If BIA gave a sweetheart deal to Southwest, they would be the #1 airport in Maine.

I think this is great news. My family loves to vacation in Florida and while it may not work for business, it certainly works for families!

And I'm

BIA can't win. When Bangor had no discount carriers the keyboard quarterbacks screamed for them, Now that Allegiant is here it is tagged as a negative asset. The fact is that any deep-discounter would have had the same effect. If for some improbable reason Southwest had overlooked BIA's puny market size and had scheduled flights to just one of its hubs it would have sucked enough traffic out of the market to make life unsustainable for the legacy carriers. At least Allegiant only attracts Florida traffic, which is low margin at best. None of the legacy carriers can make money with that sort of traffic out of markets like Bangor. They need long-haul feed to any destinations other than Florida. Allegiant brings Bangor lots of Canadian passengers (hence the 10% growth) and so it expands Bangor's market in way legacy carriers can't due to their fare structures. Bangor needs to make hay when the sun shines and Allegiant is the current bright spot. Allegiant is no different than Ryan Air, the much ballyhooed Irish carrier with its super-abrasive CEO. It too "hates airports", as well as its competitors, and it also vacuums up cheap travelers. These are the carriers that will provide the only affordable flight options for increasingly large segments of the population. Air fares will continue to escalate and rural markets will continue to lose traditional flight options. Sad, but reality just the same. The marketing suggestions proposed above are good and should be pursued. Local businesses can make a difference in attracting new Boston service, for instance, but only if they are willing to make a long-term effort and pay the going rates.

I still prefer USAir but when I go to Florida, and I go frequently, I go to Tampa

"You can't be the economic engine for half the state of Maine with 5-6 flights per day connecting to the major carriers."

Why does the half of the State with no economy to speak of need the Airport to be an engine?

The voters are constantly putting people in office who are anti-business. If This part of Maine is dying it is the fault of those of you who keep voting in the Pro-Union, Tax us to death, Anti-business, Enviro-nazis who want us all to be North Woods guides for the wealthy out of staters.

If you want to see who is to blame for the failing businesses here (that includes the Airport) look in the mirror.

As a flight instructor/pilot flying out of St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport for decades, I can vouch for the fact that this airport is way under utilized relative to it's capacity. It is a great airport with lots of amenities. Allegiant Airlines is arguably one of the best thing that's happened to PIE since Peoples Express was here in the early '80's. I grew up in Owl's Head, home of RKD and return frequently. BGR is much closer to Rockland than either BOS, MHT or PWM, thus, Bangor should be the ideal choice for anybody flying to or from the midcoast of Maine. When RKD was on the docket for Colgan Air, the cost was prohibitive from Tampa after you changed planes in D.C. and BOS and then stopped in Augusta. To boot, it took all day and that was when the weather was good. The legacy carriers that seem to draw so much attention these days are just that; legacy. They can not compete with the likes of Southwest or Allegiant for the non business traveler and his choice of getaway places. Therefore, unless our new administration gives away some more of our hard earned tax dollars to the air carriers (they have some good lobbyists), they too will go the way of the Lehman Bros., Colonial Bank and some of the other "too big to fail companies". Let's put BGR back on the map and make this a profitable venture for both Bangor and Allegiant.

The airport management is doing the best job possible -they are consumant professionals -its a a pipe dream to imagine increasing volume in a depression -yet they work hard to expand service -the naysayers here are working literally against the best interests of our community , support the efforts of the airport -they at least are in the trenches trying -they are trying , unlike the naysayers =who typically are tearing at the fabric of our community.

This is wonderful news. I live about 8 miles from the St Pete/Clearwater Airport and my father who is in his late 80's lives in coastal Maine. Now he can have a non-stop flight and be here in less than 4 hours. It will also make it possible to have long weekends "home" easier and more affordable for me as well.

I think this is wonderful news. There are alot of elderly people who winter in FL and this makes it so much better for them. The non stop flight is awesome for them and alot less worries on thier families. Also this makes family vacations more affordable and people will be able to go, when it might not have been possible. Flights for $89.00? Can't beat it. We use Allegiant ever winter and love them. We used to have to travel to Portsmouth NH, untill 2007 when they moved into Bangor. That was a life saver. We were in Florida by the time we would have just gotten to NH by car.

How could you guys prefer a lay over in Boston-Laguardia-JFK-Dulles-or ewwwww Philly than another in Char, NC-Atlanta-or Clev. flying with US or Delta when you can have a direct flight and for much cheaper? I use the Orlando service at least 10 times a year.

On 9/16/09 at 10:44 PM, richard11 wrote: "The airport management is doing the best job possible -they are consumant professionals -its a a pipe dream to imagine increasing volume in a depression -yet they work hard to expand service -the naysayers here are working literally against the best interests of our community , support the efforts of the airport -they at least are in the trenches trying -they are trying , unlike the naysayers =who typically are tearing at the fabric of our community"

Your kidding right? Yeah, they may well be "consumant professionals" because their performance sure doesn't indicate that they're "consumate professionals" . First of all it's not a depression, it's a recession. Secondly, go back and take a hard look at the current airport administration's performance, not just during the recent recession, but long before, when this country was having one of it's biggest boom economies in the last 100 years. Go back and look at the number of carriers and number of flights per day when Hupp was hired and compare it to now - I'm thinking you'll be very surprised.

ERIC RUSSELL - here's a potential follow up story for you. Go back and create a timeline for the last 10 years, noting (at 6 month intervals) the number of carriers at BIA, the number of weekly flights, and revenue pasenger loads. Then plug in the hire date of the current administration. Richard11 might be surprised, or maybe I would be, but it's about time for someone to lay out the numbers in a straight forward and easily understandable manner. Also, show that same timeline and info for Portland. That would be interesting.

I live in the Tampa area ( Lakeland ) Right between Tampa & Orlando & am formily from Bangor &

I love it !!!! Bob Cushing E - M jc_bob99@yahoo.com

BEWARE of the cheap fare, my 129 dollar non stop flight to Bangor became 270 dollars, they are in the bag business, oh, select seat charge, oh, change the flight, also absolutely NO munchies or beverage available

user5225 - I guess it depends on your final destination and the purpose of your trip. I fly on business at least twice per month - I fly for vacation once every couple of years. I welcome Alligeant Air, it's great for vacationers, providing you have the flexibility to deal with a two flights per week schedule. I'm much more concerned about having adequate air service to accomodate both current and potential business flyers. Losing American and Continental, along with the dramatic cutbacks of flights from Delta leaves the greater Bangor area with inadequate service for the business traveler. Not having air service to connect to the closest major hub (Boston) is ludicrous.

Northwoods_Maine - you are correct to be concerned. Business travelers are utilizing Portland more than ever. Not because of the prices, but because of the availability of service. Allegiant will syphon off even more passengers from the legacy carriers which will put those carriers in the position of cutting back or cutting out.

This is good for snowbirds and those heading south. But Allegiant does not help to promote the Bangor area as a tourist destination. They are looking for southbound travelers. And they aren't looking for the business traveler either.

We cannot draw new business to the Greater Bangor area without air service. And we cannot attract air service without a growing population or growing business.

I can envision Bangor as a charter airport with few commercial flights. We are more like Rockland, Augusta and Bar Harbor. The difference is these three smaller airports are subsidized by the Federal government.

Remember, the $89 rates will not be there for Thanksgiving, Christmas or school vacations. And as limlib reminds us all, the fares don't include taxes, seat assignments, baggage and the $13.50 courtesy fee for booking your own flight.

I refuse to fly into BGR for a few reasons. High cost, and a terminal that looks as modern as 1960 has to offer. Rebecca Hupp could not manage a parking lot. And after the big stink over giving home made sweets to Armed Forces members, that was enough for me to make sure my money goes elswhere.

"Northwoods- here's a potential follow up story for you. Go back and create a timeline for the last 10 years, noting (at 6 month intervals) the number of carriers at BIA, the number of weekly flights, and revenue pasenger loads. Then plug in the hire date of the current administration. Richard11 might be surprised, or maybe I would be, but it's about time for someone to lay out the numbers in a straight forward and easily understandable manner. Also, show that same timeline and info for Portland. That would be interesting. "

If you really want to compare apples to apples please also factor in the business expansion rate for Portland Vs Bangor and the potential customer base during that same timeline. Of course it would be impossible to evaluate the US policy changes that have contributed to the loss of business at places that used to get International service like Bangor (recent out of Country customs screning stops as an example) and it would also be impossible to look at aircraft design changes that have allowed aircraft to increase their range between fuel stops but I really doubt all of those facts will matter when you make your decisions anyway.

"And after the big stink over giving home made sweets to Armed Forces members, that was enough for me to make sure my money goes elswhere. "

I really love these comments too. Walter who do you think gets sued if someone harms the troops with something they were allowed to bring in from home?

Sure I know that would never happen just ask the folks in New Sweden.

I bet Pot Luck suppers at the church there are a bit tense even to this day.

An interesting tit-bit about airline ticket taxes at work: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-09-17-little-used-airports_N.htm

newportres - I was merely asking for the time, not the instructions on how to build a clock. I'm well aware that everything from the events of 9/11, to fuel prices, to aircraft design, to business expansion can be factored into this or any other comparison. I was merely saying that a thorough reporting of the basic facts and figures would prove helpful to this conversation. I fully recognize that Portland is a larger service area with more business travelers - but everything is relative. If BIA had 20% as many flights and passengers 5 years or 10 years ago vs. Portland, than it could reasonably be expected that those same ratios should apply today. You seem to be making the arguement that business has expanded at a much higher rate in Portland than Bangor so the Portland airport should have more flights. I would make the argument that significant business expansion can not happen without a viable commercial airline service and what we'll have after Dec.1 is not viable. Chicken or the egg, I guess.

I already know of several people who work for large companies (including myself) that are very torn by the reality of the possibly having to move away from this area because their jobs entail significant air travel and it will be next to impossible for them to perform their jobs with the service we'll have after Dec.1. Nit-piks aside, I love living here and do so only because I choose to, but I'm very concerned that I won't be able to remain here much longer if we don't at least have reasonable (2-4 flights per day) air service to Boston.

"You seem to be making the arguement that business has expanded at a much higher rate in Portland than Bangor so the Portland airport should have more flights. I would make the argument that significant business expansion can not happen without a viable commercial airline service and what we'll have after Dec.1 is not viable. Chicken or the egg, I guess. "

Chicken or the egg argument may apply here but at least in my mind the problems are related. If we lose the Airport business can not come back. On the other hand I believe we are losing the Airport because we have spent the last 20 years or so driving what business Northern Maine has had away. Could be more of an example of cause and effect then chicken or egg and I believe we are beyond the point of recovery right now with out some change in the policies in this State. Southern Maine seems to be the only place where anyone wants business in the first place. The rest of the State is slowly being set aside as a vacationland for those fine tax payers.

I work for one of the car rentals at BIA. Rebecca Hupp has mismanged BIA to a ghost town (picture the Langolier movie) seriously at times it is surreal how empty the place is. Rebecca Hupp is a terrible airport director and terrible person and has spread her posion into every aspect of the airport, her employees, car rentals, airlines, TSA, gift shops, customs, coffee shop, the list goes on and on. American Eagle departure, Continetal departure, losing Atlanta, losing Cincinnati, losing Boston...someone needs save our airport and all the businesses attached. Save it NOW. You can't blame the economy on her mismanagement and lack of development skills (there was no marketing manager for three years for C-sake) talk about an open window for Portland to swoop in and grab the gravy. The City Council needs to save our airport...PLEASE listen! Citizens please contact them now and often!

halwheeler@juno.com

rirastone@gmail.com

dnealley@aol.com

smhbangor@aol.com

ggratwick@aol.com

peterderrico@netzero.com

richard.b.bronson@hotmail.com

jebpab1@aol.com

bangorgp@yahoo.com

savebia2009

"has spread her posion into every aspect of the airport, her employees, car rentals, airlines, TSA, gift shops, customs, coffee shop, the list goes on and on"

Could you define what this posion thing is please?

BIA is not in decline - they are actually brilliantly foresighted in comprehending the emerging economy of central, northern and eastern Maine: Snowbirdism!

I have used Portland and then a rental car to drive to Bangor. Jet Blue offers a real deal, $139 including the rental car! To save $250, I will drive the 2 hour trip to Bangor. Picked the rental car up at the PWM and dropped it off at BGR. US Air and Continental have great connections to the northeast, but they do little for those of us not going there. Allegiant is a tourist airline, Snowbird Express is probably a better name for them. It is nice to get a non-stop plane from FL to Bangor. I just flew the Sanford to BGR flight and it was great! No "iffy" connections in Philly, DC, JFK and Charlotte. Airport fees and taxes on rental cars are a bit much. I was charged 10% sales tax on the rental and just about the same amount for "airport junk fees". I know the airport has to be self-sufficient, but that is a bit steep. I can tell you that many rental car agents do not speak highly of the airport management. I was even told by one to write the city council a letter. They know the airport isn't healthy right now.

The Airport is operated as an enterprise fund. Maybe the Airport should rely on taxpayer money to help support its operation. Then, at least, some of your points may make sense because you will then have a vested interest.

Our agency sends a lot of people to the Tampa area, so this flight is certainly welcome!