Rockford lands Newark and Fort Collins Service on Elite Airways

ROCKFORD — New air routes will begin in August connecting Rockford with Newark, N.J., and Fort Collins, Colorado.

Elite Airways announced Tuesday that it will have three weekly routes to the two cities, which are near New York City and Denver, respectively. Officials from the Chicago Rockford International Airport and the airline have been talking about service for a year. Elite is considering adding more flights here.

Newark is 18 miles from Manhattan, which surveys by airport staff have long pegged as the No. 1 destination on local wish lists. Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, is 52 miles north of Denver, another coveted route. That airport is near the headquarters of Woodward Inc., a major employer in the region's aerospace cluster that on July 1 will have a ribbon cutting at its new, $300 million aircraft fuel systems plant in Loves Park.

"We love the idea of helping them move their employees between Fort Collins and Rockford," said Mike Dunn, executive director of Rockford's airport.

Flights from Rockford to and from New York will be on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, Dunn said. Service to and from Fort Collins will be in the afternoons on the same days.
John Pearsall, president of Elite Airways, said fares will be competitive, with one-way tickets priced around $150. Reservation information may be found at flyrfd.com.

Pearsall said Elite has a fleet of 10 regional passenger jets that seat 50 or 70 passengers. Fares include free baggage and seat assignments, and in Rockford there's free parking and free WiFi in the terminal.

Pearsall expects the new routes will to draw passengers from the Chicago suburbs and southern Wisconsin, both of which have grown into sweet spots for the Rockford airport's leisure travel market. But Pearsall expects a mix of business and pleasure travelers to use both routes.

Rockford has twice had service to Denver in the past decade. But both United Airlines and Frontier Airlines service was subsidized, either directly by a federal grant or revenue guarantees that ensure the airline didn't lose money on a route.

Pearsall said there are no incentive agreements between the airport and his airline. He said Elite is growing and that could bode well for Rockford.

"We think Rockford is just an ideal location," he said, noting that within three months Elite will know if the routes will be successful.

Elite Airways operates from Melbourne, Florida. According to its website, the company operates three routes: Denver to Branson, Missouri; Houston to Branson; and Melbourne to Newark, N.J. The airline was founded in 2006 by airline veterans looking to provide a better travel experience for its passengers. The airline also operates charter flights, especially for NCAA and professional sports teams, but recently expansion has been on the passenger side. The company announced routes between Newark and Melbourne last week.

Rockford's airport caters mostly to leisure travelers. Allegiant Air and Apple Vacations fly passengers to eight destinations: Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa, Fla.; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Source :http://www.journalstandard.com/article/20150609/NEWS/150609430