Thursday, February 16, 2012

PEOPLExpress plans return to the skies

A new airline with the name of an '80s bargain airline could be taking to the skies again and flying to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT/KPIT)  .

PEOPLExpress plans to begin operations later this year with headquarters at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF/KPHF) in Virginia. It will initially serve Pittsburgh (PIT/KPIT); Providence (PVD/KPVD), R.I.; Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR/KEWR) in New Jersey and West Palm Beach (PBI/KPBI), Fla. The airline would use Boeing 737-400 twin-engine, single-aisle planes with 158 seats.

The new company holds the trademark of the former bargain-basement airline, which had at one point been the nation's fifth largest and flew from 1981 to 1987 before being absorbed by Continental Airlines in a shakeout.

The new PEOPLExpress would not have baggage or seat-assignment fees, which have become standard fare on many low-cost and legacy carriers.

"Our goal is to make flying fun again," said PEOPLExpress COO Mike Morisi in a statement.

There have been some discussions between PEOPLExpress and officials at Pittsburgh International Airport but no firm agreement, said Pittsburgh International Airport spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny.

"They're still in the early stages of putting the operation together," Jenny said.

It's so early that there have been no decisions on where in the Pittsburgh International Airport landside or airside terminal the airline would go. But there is space available.

"We would be thrilled to have PEOPLExpress come to Pittsburgh," Jenny said.

(Paul J. Gough - Pittsburgh Business Times) 

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