Flights to Phoenix, Las Vegas on agenda
8:23 PM 5/25/04
Marv Balousek Wisconsin State Journal

Nonstop flights from Madison to Las Vegas and Phoenix are long-range objectives for the Dane County Regional Airport, director Brad Livingston told a business group Tuesday. <

Livingston, who spoke at a luncheon at the American Center sponsored by the Wisconsin Innovation Network, said more immediate goals are improving United Express service to and from Chicago and enhancing service to Denver and Atlanta. <

He said the airport has enough passenger capacity to support nonstop flights to Las Vegas and could support flights to Phoenix if some passengers could connect from there to West Coast cities. <

Other cities such as San Francisco or Los Angeles don't have enough passengers from Madison to fill flights, Livingston said. <

Madison business leaders believe that increasing the nonstop destinations served by the Dane County airport would help attract and retain businesses. They've also been concerned about poor service to and from Chicago by United Express, which is operated by Air Wisconsin. <

Livingston said he will attend a meeting today in Washington, D.C., about United Express service with Cindy Szadokierski, the hub manager for United Air Lines, and representatives of Wisconsin's congressional delegation. <

"I hope by Friday we'll have some better news about this dilemma that we have," he said, adding that the congressional delegation has leverage because United is seeking federal money. <

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, complained this month in a letter to Szadokierski that in January and February about 15 percent of United Express flights between Madison and Chicago were canceled and 52 percent were delayed. <

"We've very pleased that the letter is getting a hearing from officials at United Air Lines and we look forward to discussing our concerns," said Baldwin spokeswoman Jerilyn Goodman. <

She said the meeting will cover what United Express is doing to improve service, why a Madison-Denver flight was canceled and baggage delivery issues. <

Livingston said he also plans to meet next month with Southwest Airlines officials, who have visited Madison but haven't indicated an inclination to add flights to the city. Southwest Airlines is better off financially than many airlines, he said, and stockpiled fuel last year so it avoided this year's price increases. <

The airport director said that of about 2.5 million passengers each year in the Dane County airport's market area, about 1.6 million use the local airport. Most of the rest fly out of Milwaukee or Chicago. <

Livingston said the airport is compiling a business travel database in conjunction with the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and will solicit proposals next month on providing wireless Internet service throughout the terminal. <

He said some cities such as Eugene, Ore., Peoria, Ill. and Beaumont, Texas, provide revenue guarantees to airlines as an incentive to offer more destinations. <

Contact Marv Balousek at mbalousek@madison.com or 252-6135. <