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Keith Benman
The NWI Times
Viza Air Seeks Gary Exclusivity
Gary/Chicago International Airport officials continue to talk with startup airline Viza Air about flights from Gary to Washington D.C., but they are drawing the line at offering the airline any exclusive rights.
Viza Air recently requested exclusive use of a jet gate, the terminal restaurant and interior terminal signage, said Airport Director Chris Curry. The airport turned Viza down on all three.
"If you are a smaller regional airport like us, you cannot give exclusive use to anyone," Curry said.
Giving exclusive rights would limit the airport's ability to attract other airlines, something it will be actively exploring next week at an aviation conference in Chicago, Curry said.
Viza Air Chairman Derric Price expressed disappointment this week when told of the airport's decision, saying he hadn't received word yet. He said he is pushing ahead with efforts to attract investors and start two daily flights from Gary to Reagan National Airport in August.
He also outlined plans to fly from Gary to Newark Liberty International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport.
"What we want to do is make Gary a significant airport," he said. "For Gary to say 'I'm not going to give you something' doesn't make sense."
The U.S. Department of Transportation has confirmed Viza Air has obtained two highly coveted landing slots at Reagan National. It is now negotiating to obtain gates and other services at the airport. Viza Air still wants to start its Gary to Reagan National service in August, Price said.
The fledgling airline plans to lease its planes and crews, Price said.
The Gary airport will not be offering Viza Air any marketing money or other up-front financial incentives, Curry said. It may consider incentives such as a discount on landing fees, which it have been used in the past.
The airport only has two gates with jet bridges and one restaurant on the east end of the small terminal.
The Gary airport has been without a regularly scheduled airline since super-discounter SkyBus abruptly folded in April.
Airlines typically demand incentives and sometimes even revenue guarantees from small regional airports. Those can prove to be controversial, especially when airlines that have landed incentives pull out of an airport or fold altogether.
Toledo-Express Airport officials are under fire this week for laying out $150,000 in marketing money for JetAmerica, a fledgling airline that was suppose to start flights last week but abruptly folded before a plane ever left the ground. The airline also was expected to start flights out of South Bend Regional Airport.
JetAmerica's founder was also behind SkyBus.
This article ran on nwitimes.com on July 24, 2009.
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