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Airline to fill void at St. Petersburg-Clearwater
By STEVE HUETTEL
Published February 19, 2005
Don't worry if you've never heard of the newest airline at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. Until a few days ago, almost nobody else had either.
Lehigh Valley Air, a startup air service, will begin flying March 24 from Allentown, Pa., to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International and Fort Lauderdale International Airport.
The scheduled public charter carrier, a unique collaboration between Lehigh Valley International Airport and an Atlanta tour operator, was designed to pick up service discontinued when Largo-based Southeast Airlines closed Nov. 30.
"Southeast proved that Allentown-St. Petersburg was a good route," said Cary Evans, executive vice president of tour operator Aviation Advantage. "We think it's a slam dunk and so does the airport."
Lehigh Valley Air plans to make one roundtrip flight between Allentown and St. Petersburg every day but Tuesdays. One-way fares start at $79 and go up to $143 for walk-up passengers.
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International has been anxious for good news. Besides Southeast, the airport will lose its largest carrier when bankrupt ATA Airlines ends local flights April 10. The airlines flew about 75 percent of the airport's 1.33-million passengers in 2004.
Aviation Advantage will lease a 137-seat Boeing 737-300 and crew for Lehigh Valley Air. Under federal rules for public charters, the company will keep fares in an escrow account until each flight is completed and maintain a $200,000 bond to protect customers.
Lehigh Valley International will put up $200,000 to $250,000 to advertise the service around Allentown will waive airport fees for the carrier, said executive director George Doughty.
The airport will hire about 50 part-time employees to staff a reservation center for Lehigh Valley Air inside a hangar. Aviation Advantage will pay the airport a fee for each reservation.
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International will provide money to advertise Lehigh Valley Air in the bay area but hasn't worked out the details, said Jeff Clauss, director of air service development.
Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or 813 226-3384.
FOR TICKETS
Lehigh Valley Air begins flights to and from Allentown, Pa., on March 24. For reservations, call toll-free 1-888-359-5824.
[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:56:09]
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