TMA preps for maiden Syracuse flight

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jun 06, 2003 by Yunich, Rob

SYRACUSE - A new airline is making its debut at Syracuse's Hancock International Airport at the end of June. TransMeridian Airlines (TMA) will offer nonstop service from Syracuse to Orlando and San Juan, Puerto

Rico six days a week beginning June 27.

"We have been working to bring more affordable air service to Syracuse and Central New York, and TransMeridian entering our market is the culmination of this effort," Syracuse Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll says. "It is our hope that [TMA's] presence will create more competition, convince our current carriers to bring back their nonstop flights and/or offer more economical fares. Additionally, TransMeridian Airlines' initial plans will create about 3 5 to 40 new jobs for Central New York and potentially more in the future."

The schedule of flights will be the same every day and flies every day except Tuesday - the quietest travel day of the week, according to the airline. The flight leaves Hancock at 7:40 a.m. and arrives at Orlando Sanford International Airport at 10:15 am. The flight then leaves Orlando at 11:15 am. and arrives in San Juan at 2:10 p.m. The plane turns around and leaves San Juan at 3:25 p.m., arrives in Orlando at 6:25 p.m., and back at Hancock at 9:55 p.m. TMA's service is the only nonstop service between Syracuse and Orlando.

Georgia-based TMA was founded in 1995 as a charter airline, and this is the company's first foray into scheduled-charter service. However, TMA's flights will be billed differently from other airlines because of United States Department of Transportation laws governing the collection of payments for charter airlines. When a ticket is purchased on TMA, the funds paid in advance are placed into a federally approved escrow account until the passenger completes his or her travel. For most airlines, tickets are immediately billed to a credit card, for example - upon purchase.

"In order to take advantage of different revenue opportunities for our company, we spent a bit of time analyzing markets that could use low-cost airlines," says Ed Greenfield, TMA's vice president of sales and marketing. "Syracuse turned up in our research as a city that met our criteria and, most importantly, a route that would provide significant benefit to the traveling community."

TMA is offering an introductory fare of $69 per person one way to Orlando if the ticket is booked by June 18. After that, the fare goes up to $79 and will never exceed $179, Greenfield says. For San Juan, the introductory rate is $159 one-way, but Greenfield did not have details on the regular rate. All TMA tickets are nonrefundable and prices do not include applicable taxes. Complete rules and regulations can be found on TMA's Web site (www.iflytma.com) or by calling 1-866-IFLYTMA.

Additionally, TMA will provide meal service and advanceseat assignments on all segments and does not require advance purchases. Tickets can be purchased through the airline or a ticket agent. Greenfield says TMA is exploring other "portals of sale."

TMA currently owns nine aircraft five 727-200 advanced aircraft and four 757-200ER aircraft. Greenfield says the airline is planning to buy a third type of narrow-body aircraft which includes the Boeing 727, 737, and 757, as well as the Airbus A-320 - by the end of this year. TMA will operate a 727 on the SyracuseOrlando-San Juan route. On July 1, a second 727 will make its way to Hancock and serve as a backup and occasional substitute to the primary aircraft. Both planes will have 172 identical seats; there will be no first- or business-class section.

"In essence, our objective is to go to a market and offer low fares and quality service," Greenfield says. "Syracuse has been one of the highest-priced markets in the US... This is an ideal scenario for (all] parties."

Greenfield says TMA hopes to reach other markets and expand its overall operations.

"We look forward to capitalizing on our initial success and adding service at the appropriate time," Greenfield says. "If the current service meets expectations - and every indication is [that it will] - I forecast that we'll start additional service before the year's end." He declined to name a location.

This new Syracuse-Orlando-San Juan service also helps TMA utilize its aircraft more frequently. During the first eight years of operation, the airline only flew when the customer requested service - the mantra of a charter operation.

"We've concluded that, in general, we need and want to provide consistent utilization on a daily basis for all our aircraft," Greenfield says. "Since Sept. 11, [2001], more and more travel companies are taking less risk, and more importantly, reducing the number of hours in terms of operations. So we have decided to develop increased utilization per aircraft and fill a need by taking advantage of lower-cost [tickets] and our flexibility to provide service to specific markets."

TMA also is developing a relationship with a Syracuse-area food vendor to provide meal service for the flights. Greenfield says negotiations are under way and could not release additional information.