Single carrier to serve Joplin Airport manager says Northwest's defection based on national losses... Joplin Regional Airport Manager Steve Stockam said he believes Northwest Airlink's local operation was profitable, and that its decision to withdraw from the city has more to do with the fact the company is losing $2 million a day nationally. Northwest Airlink, saying it was losing money by operating out of Joplin, announced Thursday it will discontinue service to the city, possibly as early as next month. Those who already have tickets are being asked to call Northwest reservations at (800) 225-2525 to discuss refunds or make alternative arrangements. "We have filed notice with the (U.S.) Department of Transportation of our intent to cease operations in Joplin," said Phil Reed, vice president of marketing for the commuter airline, which is part of Northwest Airlines. The airline offers two daily nonstop flights from Joplin to its Memphis hub on Saab 340 aircraft, each with a capacity for 33 passengers. "The market is no longer commercially viable," Reed said. "Revenues are not keeping up with expenses." Stockam disagreed. "Joplin has historically been a very profitable station for Northwest," he said. "They are up (in passengers) to where they were last year at this time, which is about 30 percent above normal. They've rebounded very, very well. "I think the market is viable here. We just need to find somebody who is wanting to serve the market. I truly, truly believe that this decision is not based upon Joplin. It is not based on the market here. This is a corporate decision." He said the aircraft that have served Joplin are not being deployed to another city but are being taken out of service. "In other words, they're contracting their operation. They're getting rid of airplanes," he said. Describing airline seats as "perishable," Reed said many are sold at discounted prices at the last minute, so even when the planes leaving Joplin are full, the airline is still losing money. He cited the Sept. 11 tragedy and its impact on airlines, and said that many people have a perception that flying is difficult and inconvenient. Northwest offered three flights out of Joplin until the terrorist attacks. Reed also said business travel is down, but Stockam said business travel out of Joplin has returned to pre-Sept. 11 levels. Reed said the airline has been watching the Joplin area closely this summer, a peak travel period, but has not seen anything that indicates an improvement. He said the airline could cease operating in Joplin as early as Aug. 11, if the Department of Transportation approves. "Traditionally, we ask for a 90-day notice," Reed said. "In this instance, we have asked that the 90-day notice be waived." He said the airline next month will enter a period of slow travel, with school starting and vacations ending. "September to November is the lowest level of revenue per year," he said. "During that time frame we would do nothing, in our opinion, but continue to sustain incremental losses." Reed said Northwest Airlink is wrestling with the same problem in some of its other markets, but Joplin is the only one in which the company plans to discontinue all service. "We are in the middle of four other major airports. They are all within driving distance," said Steve Plagmann, director of agent support services for Great Southern Travel. "Lots of other cities the size of Joplin are having the same problems if they are within driving distance of a major airport. It's not an isolated situation." Northwest also offers flights out of Springfield and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to Memphis. Reed speculated that the opening of the Arkansas airport in late 1998 may have had an impact on travel out of Joplin, although he had no specific numbers. "There has been some of what we call leakage into that region," he said. The Joplin airport also is served by American Connection, which formerly was Trans World Express until American Airlines and Trans World Airlines merged last year. That airline offers four daily flights to St. Louis, including one added last spring. Bill Mishk, vice president of marketing for American, said his company intends to stay in Joplin. "While I wouldn't say the fourth flight is full, we are pleased with the level of support," he said. "In light of the Northwest decision, we are going to review the traffic levels and see what opportunities exist." Joplin also was served for a short time by the new start-up Ozark Air Lines, which discontinued service last spring and later sold. "We need people to continue to support the airport if we want to keep the services we do have," Plagmann said.