Dec. 28--JOPLIN, Mo. -- Jet service is on its way back to Joplin.
American Eagle has announced plans to stop flying turboprop planes from its main hub in Texas and switch to regional jets early next year.
"The airline has already rescheduled the bookings for Joplin," Steve Stockam, manager of the Joplin Regional Airport, said Wednesday. "We will start seeing regional jets the first of February.
"Ultimately, everyone is going to be excited to see regional jet service again."
It will mark the first time jet service has been available in Joplin since the reorganized Ozark Air Lines operated briefly in the region a decade ago before going out of business. Ozark was flying 30-passenger jets at the time, said Stockam.
American Airlines will replace turboprop planes at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with Embraer 44-seat and 50-seat jets.
"American has two styles of jets, so they will interchange them," Stockam said.
The jets are smaller, but faster, than the 64-passenger turboprops being flown in and out of Joplin now, said Stockam.
"The leg between here and Dallas, there is probably going to be a 15-minute difference," he said.
American Eagle has two arrivals and departures a day at the Joplin airport. Stockam said that because of the smaller planes, a third arrival and departure eventually could be scheduled, but it's too early to tell.
"This came about fairly quickly," Stockam said. "We have had some discussions with them about adding a third flight to make up the seats. Initially, what they want to do is get the new airplanes in here and work the schedule as is, and then hopefully we'll have a discussion."
January and February are typically the slowest months for traffic at Joplin and many other airports, Stockam said.
"As we move toward March and April, those airplanes fill up pretty quickly," he said. "That's when we'll be looking to American to add a third rotation in here."
Stockam said the airline hauled 4,000 passengers in and out of Joplin last month, and the total stands at 53,000 passengers since it started serving Joplin on Feb. 10, 2011.
Stockam said he doesn't think the change will mean higher costs. He said American adjusted its fares systemwide as did other airlines in November.
"They have not told us they are doing anything cost-wise with the new structure," he said.
American Eagle CEO Dan Garton on Tuesday notified employees of that and other changes taking effect by Jan. 31, as the carrier seeks to streamline operations. The airline's parent, Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
AMERICAN SCHEDULE
The Joplin Airport has two American Eagle flights to Dallas daily.
The first leaves at 7 a.m. and arrives in Dallas at 8:30 a.m.
A Joplin-bound flight leaves Dallas about 12:55 p.m. and arrives in Joplin at 2 p.m. It returns to Dallas about 2:35 p.m.
Another flight departs from Dallas at 7:35 p.m. and arrives in Joplin about 8:50 p.m.
Copyright 2011 - The Joplin Globe, Mo.
