New EAS Airline for Columbia
Columbia is getting a new EAS airline. EAS in a federal program that subsidizes air service in small communities. In Missouri it includes Joplin, Columbia, Kirksville and Cape Girardeau. In Arkansas it includes Harrison and several other towns. Without EAS, these places would probably not have any commerical air service.
Several months ago Air Midwest said it was leaving many of these markets. Now, we're finding out who will replace them in Columbia. The Columbia Tribune reports that Mesaba Airlines will provide service between Columbia and Memphis—three flight a day.
Mesaba is a subsidiary of Northwest Airlines. It's interesting to note that Mesaba is pursuing EAS markets—even in the shadow of the pending merger between Northwest and Delta.
Kent
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Reader Comments (4)
It would appear that Joplin is trying to take the same road Columbia has taken.
City requests national carrier to serve as EAS provider
Memphis is a good change for Columbia. However, flying on a prop-plane is not desireable to many people in the area. Thats why passenger numbers have been continuously falling and in addition the cost is ridiculous. People are scared to death of prop-planes. We want jet service. Tell one of your airlines down there to stop by enroute to Chicago and pick us up. Please!
i heard in usa today that hawaiian air got the joplin route
I was one of the few to fly the planes between Kansas City and Columbia. It was great until they priced me out of flying them. What a shame, my son and I loved it. As far as flying a prop, come on people. Did you ever look at the websites that show all the arrivals/departures for those prop planes? Yep, then make it everytime, just like the jets. What are you so scared of? Get on them and go. They fly at lower altitudes and the scenery is great.