Concord Journal
June 7, 2001

US Airways won't land at Hanscom

By Betsy Levinson
Staff Writer

US Airways has decided not to serve Hanscom Field because of community
concerns over new flights from the Bedford airport, the company announced
yesterday.

" Given the degree of community concern over increased flying at Hanscom
Field, it would be inappropriate to incur the costs and spend the time
necessary to develop the new service at this time, " the company said in a
statement. " While we heard from many in the business community that the new
service would be welcomed, we also heard from a large number of
organizations and individuals who are concerned about new flying at Hanscom.
"

The airport, which borders Concord, Bedford, Lincoln and Lexington, has been
the site of protest by historic and environmental groups that feel increased
commercial air traffic will hurt nearby historic areas and the bucolic
character of the towns.

" We applaud the responsiveness of US Airways to community concerns, " said
Marty Pepper Aisenberg, spokesman for Save Our Heritage, a Concord-based
historic preservation group. " We are glad they understand that Hanscom is
simply not a place to grow a large commercial airport. What is important is
for us now to move forward to get Massport to do the same thing. "

US Airways spokesman Rick Weintraub said the future depends on Massport, the
state agency that oversees Hanscom.

" If Massport and the communities can work on these issues, that will be the
determining factor for us, " he said.

Massport spokesman Richard Walsh said, " Airlines change schedules based on
market conditions. At Logan, things like this are a regular occurrence. From
our perspective, operating a commercial airport, we don't see this as out of
the ordinary. "

In mid-May, US Airways announced that US Airways Express carrier Allegheny
Airlines would begin operating three daily flights between Hanscom Field and
Philadelphia beginning in mid-August, with a fourth flight being added on
this route in September.

Also in May, nearly 400 protesters jammed into Bedford Town Hall and forced
the dissolution of a hearing with US Airways and Massport officials on
proposals to fly out of Hanscom.

Gigi Estabrook, a member of the local activist group ShhAir, said the
airline " recognized the citizen opposition to this and decided to do the
right thing. "

Though Hanscom has long been home to private and corporate air traffic,
commercial service began in 1999 when Shuttle America began daily flights to
Buffalo, N.Y., and Trenton, N.J. Last fall, the airline won permission from
the Federal Aviation Administration to fly between Hanscom and New York's
LaGuardia Airport, prompting ShhAir and Save Our Heritage to increase their
visibility and pressure on Massport by conducting demonstrations on the
sidewalk in front of the airline gates.

Several other airlines are looking to expand at Hanscom, including Midway
Airlines and Boston-Maine Airlines, an affiliate of Pan American Airlines.
Shuttle America also intends to increase flights from Hanscom.

Opponents of airline expansion have sued the FAA to conduct a thorough
review of commercial service at Hanscom under the National Historic
Preservation Act.

In the statement issued yesterday, US Airways added: " These issues are best
addressed at the local level and we trust that in time both the community
and the Massachusetts Port Authority will reach an appropriate resolution.
We wish them well in their efforts. "


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