Demand determines BIA’s success

In regard to the debate about the proposed US Airways-Delta merger-takeover and the effects it would have on air service to Bangor, I feel obliged to comment on and clarify a few points that have been made. I was employed by Delta for close to 27 years, and worked in the airline industry for more than 34 years. I have worked in station management in cities ranging from major airline hubs to the smallest of operations. I have seen what was once a proud industry reduced to a confusing tangle of major carriers, commuter-connection airlines, and the baffling concept of code sharing.

First, the real shocker to most people is that Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways do not serve Bangor International Airport. Contrary to ads and media reports, Delta Airlines does not have any employees in Bangor, nor do any of the major airlines. Bangor is served by various commuter airlines flying smaller regional jets. These commuter airlines fly under contracts and agreements with the major airlines with some actually being owned by the major carrier they fly for. This practice started years ago as the major airlines realized that using commuter carriers to feed their hubs was a beneficial move to their route and cost structure.

At that time, they generally operated as different identities working together, but over the years the major airlines’ marketers have slowly merged the identities as one mainly for the continuity of flight connections and fares. Bangor has clearly benefited from this transition in the way airlines operate. However, to maintain air service, a route or a combination of routes must make money. The 1978 Airline Deregulation Act changed forever the way airlines operate. Since then, airlines are not regulated where and when they can fly. They serve cities based on one factor, profit. Airlines operate on what is called RSMs, or revenue seat miles. That is basically one paying passenger flying one air mile.

If the profit is there, the service will continue. If the US Airways-Delta takeover does pass, at that time, and at that time only, the combined route structure would be evaluated and service would be instituted based on a combination of the most profitable routes and a commuter airline to fly them. It could mean 10 daily nonstops to Philadelphia, Atlanta or Cincinnati, or none at all.

The bottom line for air service out of BIA to continue and grow is for all of us to support our airport. I have worked at many airports across the country, and BIA’s facilities, personnel and government agencies are second to none. It appears some passengers are lured to other airports for cheaper flights. In some cases, this may be valid, but more often than not, if you educate yourself on the advantage of online airline discount Web sites and-or use a travel agent, plus take into consideration the true price of traveling and other costs when leaving from other airports, the fares out of Bangor are often competitive. I’m sure we’d all love to see a true discount carrier such as Southwest, JetBlue or AirTran come into Bangor, but for these carriers to operate, they must have a constant high load factor, in other words, fill their planes every day of the year. The market for them is not here, unless these discount carriers make more use of a commuter network, which some of them are starting to do. The Catch-22 is that the only way we can enjoy the cheapest fares and most frequent service is to show the airlines the market is here. But the most vocal critics of airline service to BIA will continue to fly out of other airports and wonder why prices aren’t rock-bottom from BIA all the time or service isn’t hourly. If we are to maintain or expand the service we have here, or want a discount airline to come to BIA in some form or another, the bottom line is profit for the airlines, and that will not be there unless we all support our airport.

Jon Davis lives in Brewer.