Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990                   TAG: 9005170014
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AMERICAN EAGLE TO REPLACE PLANES ON ROANOKE FLIGHTS

The commuter subsidiary of American Airlines has been using 19-seat Metroliners for its three weekday flights to Raleigh.

Ed Martelle, spokesman for American Airlines in Dallas, said the planes will be replaced by Jetstream Super 31 aircraft. One already has been replaced, Martelle said, and the others will be replaced by June 2.

Martelle said the Jetstream has 19 passenger seats. But it has a stand-up cabin with headroom for passengers to stand erect, a lavatory and more space for baggage. Martelle said the Jetstream is a more comfortable plane. American Eagle has no immediate plans to add more flights to its Roanoke schedule, he said.

Martelle said the line doesn't have extra aircraft at this time. It also will wait to determine customer response to the improved aircraft.

American Eagle boarded 924 passengers in Roanoke in March, the last month for which figures are available.

- Staff report