There were many articles in your paper last year devoted to the high cost of airfares to Maine, especially the Bangor area, and how this was hurting the tourist industry. Even some federal legislators were making noises about regulating the industry which unfortunately, will not happen. One needs to remember that we, the taxpayers, also pay for federal business travels, while they enjoy PAC money from these same airlines that are ripping us off.

Within a few short months we will again be facing this issue. As a 30-year summer resident of Alexander, I am very familiar with the games played by airlines like Delta. For example, last year they raised their airfare by about $100, blaming it on the increased fuel costs. That’s a $100 a ticket; fuel cost or gouging?

Have the city fathers, state and federal legislatures done anything over the winter to attract one or more of the discount airlines – American Trans Air, Southwest, etc. – to Bangor in order to foster competition? Last year a lot of blame for the decreased tourist trade was directed toward the consumers who refused to be ripped off by the airlines in Bangor and thus choose airports that had attracted discount airlines.

The loss of tourist dollars hurts everyone in this beautiful part of Maine. If businesses apply pressure, perhaps it will not be too late for something to be done before Memorial Day. Let’s not have a repeat of last year.

Grazina Paegle

Alexander