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Massport’s efforts to relieve the burden on Logan Airport through regionalization continue with more good news for neighborhood residents. After only one month of operation, Atlantic SOUTHEAST Airlines (ASA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, is reporting a load factor of 70 percent on their twice-daily service to Atlanta from Worcester Regional Airport.

"At Massport, we are moving away from relying on just Logan Airport. Delta’s success at Worcester Airport will draw more passengers and airlines to that lucrative regional market," said Massport CEO and Executive Director Virginia Buckingham. "Passengers are choosing regionalization."

ASA’s load factor of 70 percent for last month surpasses the regional airline’s system-wide average of 65 percent. While 70 percent of the seats on ASA flights out of Worcester were filled, the airline actually sold 83 percent of available seats. The discrepancy is due to passenger reaccomodations.

On February 1, 2000, ASA initiated daily nonstop jet service between Worcester and Atlanta aboard Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) aircraft, providing travelers from Central Massachusetts and the Metro West region with direct jet access to Atlanta, the world's largest single-airline hub. From there, Delta and the Delta Connection offer more than 900 daily departures to more than 200 destinations across the globe.

Massport took over operation of Worcester Regional Airport on January 15, 2000 under an agreement aimed at reviving the underutilized facility. Currently, Massport is in discussions with several airlines regarding additional service at Worcester Airport. The authority is marketing the regional airport and meeting with the representatives of airlines operating out of Logan to highlight Worcester Airport as an option.

Worcester Airport has tremendous untapped potential with nearly 1 million people in the market area who generate approximately 2 million air trips per year. In 1999, the airport served fewer than 50,000 passengers - less than 3 percent of the region's demand for air service.

Massport plans to build on the success seen at regional airports in Manchester and Providence - the two fastest growing airports in the nation in 1997 and 1998 - which have grown at about 40 percent. While regional airports are booming, Logan's growth has declined to about two percent a year. Increased service at Worcester and a new runway at Logan, will improve the efficiency of New England's regional transportation system.

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