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The announcement that a small regional airline will offer discount service between Chicago's Midway Airport and Des Moines beginning this week is being trumpeted by airport officials as a sign of recovery after the city lost three major airlines two years ago.
However, City Councilman George Flagg is concerned over adding too many small regional carriers, such as Chicago Express Airlines, to the Des Moines International Airport because the small operations compete directly with established larger carriers such as United Airlines and American Airlines.
Chicago Express announced June 1 it will begin offering round-trip flights to and from Des Moines for no more than $99, which airport officials say is one of the least expensive flights offered at the airport.
In 1992, the Des Moines airport lost USAir, which had daily round-trip flights to Pittsburgh, and America West, which offered round-trip flights to Phoenix, Omaha and Las Vegas. America West filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 1991 and left Des Moines in 1992. Des Moines also lost Midway Airlines to bankruptcy proceedings after the carrier filed under Chapter 11 in 1991.
The setbacks triggered a major lobbying effort by area boosters to gain additional carriers because air service is considered a major factor in economic development.
The efforts have paid of over the past 18 months, with several regional carriers beginning new Des Moines serve, say airport officials.
INDUSTRY TREND
What's happening at the Des Moines airport is in line with an overall trend in the airline industry, said Assistant Aviation Director Robert L. Hagener.
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