Direct Air Suspends All Flights
Direct Air, the only commercial passenger airline that serves Worcester Regional Airport, has suspended all flights until at least May 15, the company announced.
In a statement on its website this afternoon, the South Carolina-based carrier said it stopped flying "to address operational matters," and is looking at how to continue operations.
In an email statement this afternoon, Massport, which runs the Worcester airport, said it's "very disappointed with Direct Air's announcement and will look at other carriers about serving passenger air traffic into and out of the city.
"In the three plus years they have operated at Worcester Regional Airport, (Direct Air) has seen consistent growth with Worcester being one of its most popular markets with passenger load factors of 80 percent in 2011, which is a clear indicator that Worcester is a viable market," Massport spokesman Richard Walsh said.
Central Massachusetts supported the airline, and Massport provided extensive assistance with marketing the airport and the nonstop service provided by Direct Air," Walsh said in the statement. "Massport has been and will remain in active conversations with other carriers about service to and from Worcester."
Massport said it will work with Direct Air to make sure impacted customers receive refunds. It said passengers holding reservations on Direct Air are encouraged to contact the airline at 1-877-432-3473 for refunds. Massport has also established a customer service telephone number 508-799-1741 and opened a dedicated email account DirectAirinquiries@massport.com to assist Worcester-area passengers impacted by the suspension of Direct Air service.
Direct Air, which flies to 17 locations in the East and Midwest, has been running regular passenger flights out of Worcester since 2008. Last year, airport director Andrew Davis said more than 100,000 Direct Air passengers went through the airport. That represented a 50-percent jump from the previous year, with increases in the numbers of flights and passengers on each plane.
Direct Air offers flights from Worcester to three Florida destinations and Myrtle Beach. It had planned to begin piloting trips in May from Worcester to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a six-week period.
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