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Startup airline proposed for Armstrong International
Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
March 31, 2005
A new low-fare airline to be called DirectAir is proposing to fly a fleet of 50 Boeing 737s out of New Orleans' airport. It is projecting flights to 41 U.S., Canadian, and Latin American cities; as well as regional service to six Louisiana airports, including Baton Rouge. The airline envisions 150 daily departures from Armstrong International. That would nearly double air traffic at the airport. In a best-case scenario, DirectAir could be operational by the fall of 2006. Eventually, if demand justifies it, regional Louisiana airports could also get direct flights to major destinations.
John Miller, the moving force behind the Country Club of Louisiana who has been retained by DirectAir Holdings to assemble the airline deal, says the startup is counting on participation from the state, but adds that the state would not be expected to put up anything until the airline is up and running, and DirectAir will not require a subsidy. Any public money would be in the form of a loan. DirectAir would also not require any new terminal construction; Armstrong has enough unused capacity, Miller says. (Hal Cohen)
Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
March 31, 2005
A new low-fare airline to be called DirectAir is proposing to fly a fleet of 50 Boeing 737s out of New Orleans' airport. It is projecting flights to 41 U.S., Canadian, and Latin American cities; as well as regional service to six Louisiana airports, including Baton Rouge. The airline envisions 150 daily departures from Armstrong International. That would nearly double air traffic at the airport. In a best-case scenario, DirectAir could be operational by the fall of 2006. Eventually, if demand justifies it, regional Louisiana airports could also get direct flights to major destinations.
John Miller, the moving force behind the Country Club of Louisiana who has been retained by DirectAir Holdings to assemble the airline deal, says the startup is counting on participation from the state, but adds that the state would not be expected to put up anything until the airline is up and running, and DirectAir will not require a subsidy. Any public money would be in the form of a loan. DirectAir would also not require any new terminal construction; Armstrong has enough unused capacity, Miller says. (Hal Cohen)
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