THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Monday, July 17, 1995 TAG: 9507150275 SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL COLUMN: Talk of the Town LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
All this talk about future air service in Hampton Roads leaves one question open - what's happening now.
Well, at Norfolk International Airport, plans call for building a moving sidewalk in a heated and cooled passage that would connect the garage and the arrival section of the terminal.
The baggage claim area also will be expanded, a new garage built, and the rental car agencies moved to a garage.
This is all supposed to happen in the next several years, said deputy airport director Wayne Shank.
On the Peninsula, ValluJet decided to enter Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Within days, USAir canceled its three daily jet flights, effective Sept. 6. How will USAir's departure affect discounter ValuJet?
``We look at other carriers as competition, but we also look at other forms of transportation as competition,'' said spokeswoman Katie deNourie. ``In some cases, we compete against the couch. We are trying to stimulate new traffic.''
USAir, of course, faces the highest labor costs of any major airline. It wants concessions to compete with lower-cost carriers.
Last week, the International Association of Machinists said the Aug. 10 vote on concessions for about 15,000 USAir mechanics and ground crews probably will be scrubbed. ``We've kind of pulled the speed brake on this deal,'' said Will Cashion, president of IAM Local 1725 in Charlotte. by CNB