New Kind Of Service Causes Angst In Govt.
Ask anyone in New Jersey government and they'll
tell you. They don't like this idea.
Indigo wants fly 16-passenger Embraer bizjets four times daily
between Teterboro and Chicago Midway starting today. The company
calls itself a "public charter" service. Critics say, all that
means is anyone with $1500 can walk up and board. No security
checks required, although Indigo says it will still perform them.
No baggage screening, either.
A Scheduled Airline By Any Other Name...
"People can literally buy a ticket, whether it's off the
Internet or through the telephone, pay a fare, and walk onto a
plane," said New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood Ridge). "God
forbid [the passengers] have ulterior motives. They are going to be
flying fully fueled over residential areas I represent."
New Jersey Governor James McGreevey agrees. This week, his
administration, along with the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, will try to ground the charter service using regulations
against regularly scheduled flights out of Teterboro.
"It would adversely affect the quality of life for residents
near the airport," McGreevey said. Alan Morrison, a spokesman for
the Port Authority, said the Port Authority welcome's the
governor's support.
"We remain vehemently opposed to scheduled service at
Teterboro," Port Authority spokesman Pasquale DiFulco said last
week. "That position is clear, firm, and unchanging. Port Authority
officials and Port Authority legal counsel today spoke extensively
about exploring all options to enforce the ban, including taking
legal action against Indigo."
Indigo: Following The Rules
Indigo CEO Peter Pappas said in a statement Thursday that no
rules have been broken.
"Indigo operates as a public-charter service - not a scheduled
airline - in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,
both federal and state," Pappas wrote. "Indigo complies with and
exceeds the security requirements mandated by the Transportation
Security Administration. We also adhere to all Port Authority
regulations including those related to advertising or publishing
any timetable."
Indigo is owned by New World Air Holdings, which also owns
AirServ Inc. AirServ owns the planes.
Indigo charters the four daily flights from AirServ, as allowed
under federal Department of Transportation regulations, and then
resells the flights - seat by seat - to the public on the Internet,
through travel agents, and over the phone. By doing it this way,
they maintain their status as a "public charter."
"Charter airlines don't sell individual seats to individual
people," McNerney said. "Indigo is trying to disguise itself as a
charter airline when, in fact, it intends to operate as a
commercial airline with scheduled flights. This is clearly
prohibited by the Port Authority and I won't stand for it."
The FAA's Gonna Hear About This
Rothman was also on the offensive Thursday, firing
off letters to both the Port Authority and Marion Blakey,
administrator of the FAA.
State Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn), who sits on a House
subcommittee that approves the FAA budget, has asked both agencies
to shut down Indigo, citing security concerns and improper use of
Teterboro Airport.
"I believe they are violating their FAA charter, rules of
operation at Teterboro Airport and other regulations... " he wrote
to Blakey. "Further, I am concerned that Indigo's security measures
may be inadequate."