Pittsburgh is PeoplExpress Airlines' 'major focus'
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PeoplExpress, the no-frills carrier that failed in the 1980s, is preparing a comeback and is counting on Pittsburgh International Airport to help in the revival.
The start-up airline, which hopes to start flying in July, sees Pittsburgh as a "major focus city" in its network, with the goal of serving markets lost to travelers because of cutbacks by US Airways and other carriers.
"We're working very carefully with the Pittsburgh airport authority to identify cities that make sense," said Mike Morisi, president of PeoplExpress, in an interview Tuesday.
Pending government approval, Pittsburgh will be among the first cities served by the start-up carrier. Others include Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, the airline's headquarters in Virginia; Providence, R.I.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Newark, N.J. Of those, only Newark now is served nonstop from Pittsburgh.
Other markets under consideration include Orlando, Fla.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; and St. Louis.
"I think that what we will do is pick up markets [other airlines have] abandoned and build a very successful operation in those markets," Mr. Morisi said.
He added that he envisions PeoplExpress starting in Pittsburgh with four to five nonstop flights a day and building from that. "I think you will see that grow pretty significantly in the first year," he said.
The airline plans to have about 30 employees in Pittsburgh at its inception but could end up with as many as 100 after its first year to 18 months in operation, Mr. Morisi said. The carrier also may do maintenance work at the airport.
Pittsburgh International, whose cost per boarding is among the higher in the country, is more expensive than some of the other airports PeoplExpress is considering, Mr. Morisi said. But the Allegheny County Airport Authority extended a "very fair" deal that enabled the carrier to move forward with its plans, he added.
The authority offered the standard incentives available to any carrier that takes a chance on new routes, its executive director, Bradley D. Penrod, said. They include the option of free landing fees and marketing help.
"The fact that a new entrant carrier wants us to be part of their start, I think it's a good sign that they see Pittsburgh as a very viable market," he said.
Mr. Penrod said the authority has discussed potential markets with PeoplExpress. The carrier has not given firm numbers on potential service levels but has said it intends to "include us in a significant way" in its plans, Mr. Penrod said.
First Published February 15, 2012 12:00 am
