http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/177392.html Columbia airport moves connecting flights to KCI By RANDOLPH HEASTER The Kansas City Star The recent growth at Kansas City International Airport has prompted the airport in Columbia to shift all its connecting flights to Kansas City. Air Midwest, operating as US Airways Express, will have four departures daily to KCI from Columbia Regional Airport starting Monday, said Justin Meyer, air service development manager for the Kansas City Aviation Department. Currently, the Columbia airport has two daily departures to KCI and two to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Pulling out of St. Louis and shifting those flights to Kansas City will be beneficial for mid-Missouri air travelers, said Greg Cecil, a member of Columbia?s airport board. ?When we have flights all going to one city, we usually get better service,? he said. ?The frequencies lead to more convenient connecting flights. The Kansas City airport is growing right now, and St. Louis is not quite as busy in terms of new destinations.? Air Midwest operates 19-seat, turboprop aircraft on its Columbia flights. Meyer said the additional flights will provide a small increase in passenger traffic in Kansas City. ?We should see an increase in enplanements, but parking revenue could go down if fewer people are driving to KCI from Columbia,? Meyer said. Even with the additional flights, ?most people will still drive to the Kansas City airport from that region.? Nevertheless, Cecil said the change is a step in the right direction for air travel service in Columbia, which has struggled to attract airlines. Air Midwest has a code-sharing agreement with US Airways, and it recently expanded a code-sharing agreement with Midwest Airlines. That expansion is in six regional cities, including Columbia. ?That?s a real plus, because there are a lot of Midwest Airlines fans in Columbia,? Cecil said. Midwest is the second busiest carrier at KCI. Back when American Airlines operated a hub in St. Louis, all of Columbia?s flights went there. Cecil said the Columbia airport will have to change the mind-set of mid-Missourians who intuitively think to use the St. Louis airport instead of KCI, particularly when flying to the eastern half of the U.S. Beginning Monday, the Columbia airport will have weekday departures to Kansas City at 5:50 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 3:25 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. For several weeks, the first morning flight and the first afternoon flight will continue to be inaccurately listed on US Airways? reservations system as flights to St. Louis, Cecil said. The change to Kansas City won?t show up until mid-August, he said. To reach Randolph Heaster, call 816-234-4746 or send e-mail to rheaster@xxxxxxxxxxx ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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".