JOPLIN, MO.--- American Airlines has filed a new contract with the Department of Transportation, asking for much less financial assistance to offer its services in Joplin. American Airlines is gaining confidence in how much it is willing to invest in the Joplin Regional Airport. In 2011, the airline requested more than 2.7 million dollars in subsidies from the Department of Transportation.
This year, they are only asking for $342,000. The airline bases its request on the expected number of open seating it will have on each plane. Currently Joplin Regional has an 80% load factor on each flight, which is 10% percent higher than American Airlines originally estimated. They currently offer 2 flights a day to Dallas. However, Airport Manager Steve Stockam would like to add one more flight to Dallas and 2 to Chicago.
This year, they are only asking for $342,000. The airline bases its request on the expected number of open seating it will have on each plane. Currently Joplin Regional has an 80% load factor on each flight, which is 10% percent higher than American Airlines originally estimated. They currently offer 2 flights a day to Dallas. However, Airport Manager Steve Stockam would like to add one more flight to Dallas and 2 to Chicago.
"Anything American chooses to do beyond the two flights a day has to be at their own risk. So, we need to make sure that we can support it and they can make a profit on it because otherwise they are not going to want to do it," states Steve Stockam, Joplin Regional Airport Manager.
Stockam says the airport is seeing a need for more direct flights to the East coast. A flight from Joplin to Chicago would save those travelers an average of 7 hours.
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