Commuter airline may fly into St. Petersburg-Clearwater

By STEVE HUETTEL

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 25, 2001

Executives of Pan Am, a start-up carrier that bought the venerable airline's name in bankruptcy court, were scouting St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport last week.

Pan Am flies to eight cities in the United States and Puerto Rico from its hub at Sanford International Airport near Orlando, using seven Boeing 727 jets.

Now the New Hampshire carrier is looking at St. Petersburg-Clearwater as a possible stop for a new commuter operation flying 19-seat turboprops within Florida.

The idea, president David Fink says, is to give Pan Am passengers flying to Florida from places such as Portsmouth, N.H., and Bangor, Maine, connections throughout the state from the Sanford hub.

Pan Am officials also are looking at Miami, Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Keys and Naples for the start of the commuter service later this year, Fink said. Tallahassee, Pensacola and Jacksonville could follow.

The airline likes flying into secondary airports in large metro areas such as St. Petersburg-Clearwater because they are typically less crowded and charge less for landing fees and terminal space.

The commuter service won't carry the legendary name of Pan Am, for decades considered the premier airline for international travel. The commuter operation will be dubbed Boston & Maine Airways, after a railroad line also controlled by Pan Am's owners.

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