Make no mistake. When the final ALLEGIANT AIR flight leaves Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport on Dec. 17, that's it. The discount carrier is taking its Las Vegas service and moving on to other markets.
But it isn't just about Allegiant Air for the Springfield airport.
As airport officials will tell you, when it comes to competing for additional airlines, those that have air service, get air service. Just check the Bloomington, Peoria and Rockford airports of late. Loss of an airline complicates efforts to lure other carriers.
"We're not going to be able to keep them right now, but we're still trying everything in our power. We can't give them $1 million in incentives, but we're still trying," said airport board chairman Frank Vala.
Fuel costs are the primary reason cited by Allegiant for dropping local flights only four months after they started. Crude-oil prices that once again approached $100 per barrel in the past week didn't help.
So attention has turned to the cost of the 70,000 to 80,000 gallons of fuel a month burned by local airlines. The figure was before AmericanConnection started two flights daily between Springfield and St. Louis earlier this month.
United Express serves the Chicago and Washington, D.C. markets from Springfield.
"We're looking at all the angles ... ways maybe we can help lower costs. We're just trying to examine ourselves compared to other markets, to see what their competitive advantages are and the competitive advantages we have," airport executive director Mark Hanna said.
Allegiant does continue to add cities. Service just started between Rockford and Phoenix, where all but 20 seats on the airline's 150-passenger jet were occupied for the first flight. Much as Springfield did, the Rockford airport mounted a local marketing campaign for a Phoenix connection through write-in and Internet appeals.
The carrier also announced last week it would begin flights between Plattsburgh, N.Y. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Feb. 1, 2008.
Hanna points out airlines can come and go quickly, and it is not unheard of for a carrier to return to a market. AmericanConnection flights, which were suspended for nearly eight months, are the latest example.
"We haven't given up on them (Allegiant). We certainly are trying to understand their issues with fuel costs," he said.
More development news for MACARTHUR BOULEVARD?
Apparently details are near completion for an upscale shopping center, including Starbucks and a gourmet food store, on the site of the old Esquire theater at MacArthur and South Grand Avenue. A Chicago development company first outlined the plans in May, including demolition of the theatre.
The Esquire, which closed in 2003, and the former Kmart building have been the focus of efforts to fill in vacancies along MacArthur between South Grand and Wabash Avenues. Discussions also are said to continue for a sale of the Kmart building, which also has been empty since 2003.
A spring move-in is now planned for GOODWILL INDUSTRIES in the former K's Merchandise building at 2001 Wabash Ave. Sharon Durbin, chief executive officer of Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries Inc., said exterior and demolition work has been completed, but remodeling will take a little longer than anticipated.
"Realistically, by the time we get bids and make a decision on who we're going to use, we'll start construction in January, and you're probably looking at March or April," said Durbin.
Goodwill plans to consolidate stores at 1333 Wabash Ave. and 2305 W. Monroe St. at the new location.
A couple of new developments at WHITE OAKS MALL ...
The mall has begun construction of a children's play area, near the escalator on the lower level of the Sears wing. Mall officials said the 900-square-foot play area is a joint project with St. John's Children's Hospital of Springfield.
The "soft" play area will include interactive and educational activities targeted to children ages two to eight. A Dec. 7 opening is planned.
KITCHEN KOLLECTION, meanwhile, has opened on the lower level, Macy's wing.
In addition to kitchen and cookware, the national chain specializes in decorative items, accessories and small appliances. Paula Patton is the manger of the Springfield store. The phone number is 698-6350.
A CAR-X auto service, tire and oil-change outlet has opened at 1024 E. Jefferson St. in space formerly occupied by Purcell Tire and Auto Service. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
The phone number is 744-2279.
An employee wellness and fitness program at MICROMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES in Chatham was highlighted recently in a daily news summary of the National Federation of Independent Businesses as an example of steps taken by small businesses to cut health-care costs.
In addition to the traditional exercise room, owners Rick and Diane Miles have brought in a personal trainer and a doctor of chiropractics to monitor exercise routes, and offer health and wellness tips.
Micromedical Technologies manufactures medical equipment for diagnosing dizziness and balance problems. The company has 25 employees. The company Web site is www.micromedical.com.
