Could O'Hare Accord Be Boon To Feeder Strips?

This week's agreement between the FAA and airlines aimed at reducing congestion at Chicago's O'Hare Airport could very well be a godsend to surrounding feeder airports.

"The FAA is very supportive of smaller airports through our grants...but the decision of where flights go is not the FAA's, it is the airline's.....and how they see the markets developing," said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey. She was quoted by WTVO-TV in Rockford (IL).

Until now, the airlines haven't been very interested in flying to cities like Rockford or Gary. "We look at these various airports- Midway, Rockford, Gary- and we evaluate the demand to go to those airports and we just haven't found that there's enough demand to actually serve those airports at this time," United Airlines Executive Vice President Peter McDonald told WTVO.

But the management at American Airlines offers feeder airports a bit more hope. "We'll take a look at almost anything we think will make a difference... [but] we are largely dependent on a singular large operation."

FMI: www.ohare.com