New Air Carrier to Fly into Town, Bring 400 Jobs
Posted on: Thursday, 1 September 2005, 18:00 CDT
Sep. 1--NORFOLK -- Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation said on Wednesday that it will begin service to Norfolk International Airport as a US Airways Express carrier.
The move will bring 400 jobs for pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, managers and administrative staff to the region. About half will be local hires. The total payroll is expected to exceed $16 million.
Founded in 1965, AWAC has more than 500 departures daily to 68 cities in 27 states and two Canadian provinces, according to a release from the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance. The firm works in partnership with US Airways and United Airlines.
The carrier is expected to begin local service in October and anticipates enough frequency in service to justify the establishment of a crew base and a maintenance facility in Norfolk later this year, the release said.
"Air Wisconsin is pleased to have the opportunity to become a part of the Norfolk community," Stan Petersen-Gauthier, an AWAC vice president, said in the release. "The Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance and the city of Norfolk were both helpful in providing information to assist with our decision-making process."
Attracting AWAC is a coup for the area, said C. Jones Hooks, president and chief executive officer for the economic development alliance.
"They will be hiring skilled people. That has become important to our economic growth," Hooks said. The maintenance hangar will be approximately 38,000 square feet and will be a primary facility for AWAC to maintain its fleet of CRJ-200 regional jets. The carrier will equip the facility with about $40 million in parts and tools.
The addition of AWAC is expected to enhance the service out of Norfolk International, officials said. In some cases, regional jets are expected to replace turboprops in service to destinations, Kenneth Scott, the airport's executive director, said in the release.
"We were competing with other cities for them. Richmond was one of them," Hooks said. "We are delighted that they selected us."
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Source: The Virginian-Pilot
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