Baldacci, Colgan Air owners discuss service plans in Maine

WASHINGTON – Sometimes it helps if you’re talking to someone who understands your language: politics.

Rep. John E. Baldacci found that out when he invited the owners of Colgan Air – somewhat to their surprise – to Capitol Hill recently to talk about air service to Maine.

The carrier, Maine’s largest provider of scheduled service, actually is operated out of Manassas Airport, just outside of Washington.

The service’s founder is state Sen. Charles J. Colgan Sr., a 74-year-old longtime Democratic power in the Virginia Legislature. Colgan, chairman of the air carrier, came to Capitol Hill with his son, Michael J. Colgan, who runs the day-to-day operations the carrier as its president, to see what improvements could be made.

“They didn’t have an agenda. They were the nicest people, and they seemed to have a genuine interest and concern about the way Maine can have better service,” Baldacci said. “You don’t see that all the time.”

Michael Colgan was equally pleased. “The congressman gave us some good leads to business contracts. We hope he’ll work with us in the future to help us expand our services in Maine,” he said.

Colgan Air provides scheduled service in Augusta, Portland, Rockland, Bangor and Bar Harbor. Beginning May 15, the carrier will serve the Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle. Colgan Air also services 15 communities in eight other states – but none is a larger presence than in Maine.

There could be as many as nine round trips per day between Boston and Bar Harbor and the flights in and out of Presque Isle will carry 34 passengers, Michael Colgan said.

“We hope to carry a decent load – we normally expand service in Maine in the summertime for tourists,” Michael Colgan said.

Colgan Air operates in the state as U.S. Airways Express, with three round trips each weekday to Boston and four daily flights on weekends.

On Capitol Hill, Baldacci was ready to take the quick – and somewhat uncommon – step of praising the private vendor.

He praised the high quality of service offered by Colgan Air and discussed plans for starting service to Presque Isle this spring, replacing American Eagle.

Operating as U.S. Airways Express, Colgan Air will provide three round trip flights each weekday to Boston and four daily flights on weekends.

The new flights will depart Presque Isle at 6 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. They will arrive in Boston at 7:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The flights will depart from Boston at 10 a.m., 2:40 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and will arrive in Presque Isle at 11:30 a.m., 4:10 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Baldacci, a member of the House Transportation subcommittee on aviation, said he urged the Federal Aviation Administration to give Colgan an Essential Air Service designation, offering federal assistance, to maintain regular service. Colgan will operate 34-seat aircraft, faster and roomier than the American Eagle planes, from Presque Isle.

“I have been working to increase service to rural parts of our state and nation, and am pleased that Colgan Air will be expanding its coverage area,” he said. Baldacci said the Colgan operation is growing, “even thriving. They love serving smaller communities. That’s what they do.”

The Colgans plan to meet with representatives from the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce as well as representatives from the University of Maine and area hospitals to see if their services can be offered directly to businesses, academia and the medical community.

“Their message was that they enjoyed doing business in Maine, and the other smaller communities they serve,” Baldacci said. “In a sea of mergers and consolidations, airline delays and strikes, it was kind of like an island in that storm of people who were really interested in doing a good job, and customer friendly.”