Dubuque's business community asked American Eagle representatives for a return of the daily fourth flight that was cut in 2008. Business travelers also requested direct service to Dallas/Fort Worth and all points west that avoid Chicago's O'Hare International and a departure and arrival schedule that better serves their needs.
American Eagle asked for continued support in Dubuque and some patience while the airline industry battles economic turbulence.
Both entities agreed that commercial air service out of Dubuque Regional Airport is critical and that it can be better delivered. It was all part of an engaging discussion at a forum Tuesday sponsored by the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce.
"This was a conversation that needed to happen," Airport Manager Robert Grierson said. "What American needs to hear are the anecdotal stories about what affects peoples' travel decisions. My hat's off to them for being willing to hear it."
It is no small victory that American Airlines' 2010 plan retains Dubuque's three trips in and out of O'Hare each
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American lost $350 million in the third quarter and that isn't a statistical anomaly. It's the burden major airlines are carrying throughout this recession as they plan for the future.
"Corporate went through our system with a microscope asking do we need to trim here, is there fat there?" said American Eagle Regional Sales Manager Debra Mahler. "They got to Dubuque and said, 'You know what, Dubuque is doing well, we're not going to cut any service.' "
Mahler said that decision was in progress before Delta announced its decision to pull out of Dubuque last summer. Adding a fourth flight and a second hub, however, won't occur overnight.
"We have to be very careful how we allocate our resources," said Roger Barsamian, American Eagle's manager of business development. "While we like what we see, we have to convince the planning department that it's going to be like that consistently, month after month. We're just not there yet."
As for that connection to Dallas/Fort Worth, Mahler used the chicken and the egg analogy.
"Bringing in an IBM is huge," she said. "The more businesses like that coming to Dubuque, positions Dubuque much better."
If IBM is the chicken, Grierson considers Dallas/Fort Worth the egg. "I think if we got that flight to Dallas there would be so much additional activity that they would have to add that fourth flight," Grierson said.
One change is scheduled for Nov. 19, when the 11 a.m. departure to O'Hare will move to 1 p.m.
"I don't know how that will affect things," Grierson said. "Some people may find it more useful and others may say it shoots down their entire day. At least American Eagle knows it's an issue."
