http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_6099125 City looks into bringing in new airline By Andrea Koskey The Daily Timess Farmington Daily Times Article Launched:06/09/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT FARMINGTON ? Before Aug. 19, the Four Corners Regional Airport will have a second commercial service to Albuquerque. That's the statement made by city officials following the announcement made by Mesa Airlines last week that it will pull service before summer's end. "We are very excited," City Manager Mike Miller said. "(Assistant City Manager) Rob (Mayes) and (General Services Director) Rod (Hunt) were very aware and stayed with the news when Mesa said they were leaving to keep the service going." Miller said New Mexico Airlines could have a nine-seat flight in place as soon as 60 days, before Mesa's scheduled departure. City and airport officials, Miller said, are speaking with two potential air carriers to establish and expand service for the Four Corners to the rest of the state. One of those carriers is the newly created branch of an existing company based out of Hawaii known as New Mexico Airlines. It's parent company, Pacific Wings, is an existing carrier that has been in the state of Hawaii for more than 30 years, and company representatives said they wanted to supply the same working model on the mainland. "We wanted to start on the mainland, some place similar to Hawaii, and New Mexico was affordable and much like Hawaii," CEO of Pacific Wings Greg Kahlstorf said. "New Mexico is open for business." Kahlstorf said New Mexico, like Hawaii, has a very centralized state mentality, meaning that if customers are not located in the main corridor, they are out of the loop. "In Hawaii it's important to be able to get to Honolulu," he said. "New Mexico is not that different. Instead of water, there's islands in the desert. " By providing affordable, reliable service, he said, the airline can draw customers and connect them to the central corridor. If New Mexico Airlines establishes a route from Farmington to Albuquerque, Kahlstorf said, he could offer two flights a day for $79 for roundtrip service. Service could expand to cities throughout New Mexico, once the original flight is deemed successful. "We are efficient," he said about the fares. "We have state-of-the-art crafts that are fuel efficient and technologically advanced to keep the cost low." This airline, and Great Lakes Airlines, were approached by Farmington city officials in order to prevent a lapse in service for Farmington flyers. "They have come by in a strong way," Mayes said. "They are not rinky-dink by any means. They have a business model that works in intrastate markets like New Mexico and we are confident it will serve this market better." Great Lakes, Mayes said, is considering adding service to Albuquerque in addition to its Phoenix and Denver routes alongside New Mexico Airlines, but hesitates making a decision until it can increase its B-1900 turbo-prop fleet. Although flight service is ending, city officials said they were not aware of plans for Mesa to also pull maintenance from the Four Corners Regional Airport, or its training partnership with San Juan College. In addition to Farmington's potential flights, New Mexico Airlines will begin other statewide service to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Carlsbad and Hobbs on July 1. Then, it will expand service to include El Paso, Lubbock, Texas, and Midland, Texas, by the fall. Before Kahlstorf makes a decision to add Farmington to the flight schedule, he said, he wants the public's approval. What better way than to have potential customers see the plane and meet the airline representatives? Monday, Kahlstorf is giving Farmington that chance. He and the nine-seat Cessna Caravan will be at the airport Monday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. for viewing. "We're trying to make flying fun again," he said. "What better way than to have the customer see the craft and know what they are getting in to." ____________________________________________________________________________________ Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".