Local and Regional Flight Woes

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Local and Regional Flight Woes

By Michelle Mantel

Airlines are taking off with higher ticket prices to make up for the rising fuel prices across the country.

Recent reports indicate Central Illinois Regional Airport will lose 50 percent of their flights to Chicago, as United Airlines removes its service from the airport.

Rising prices are flying into almost all airports, including 2 right here in Central Illinois.
A busy day at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport, with long lines for people getting ready to take off.

Waiting in lines might become more frequent for everyday flyers as airlines across the world are decreasing their flights and increasing their ticket prices changing passengers for extra fees such as checking in their luggage.

Greater Peoria Regional Airport Director of Airports says, "All the services that were included in your ticket price will now be at an extra cost for example, checking your luggage in, getting a beverage, getting a snack, checking your bag in curb side."

Peoria's Greater Peoria Regional Airport is also feeling the economic bite in flights.
They're removing one of their daily American Airlines services that usually travels directly to Chicago.

"At this point we're very glad we're only losing this one flight because a lot of other airports in central Illinois and around the U.S. are losing a lot more flights", said Spirito.

Some officials project less airline passengers in the future.
And the culprit? Sky rocketing fuel prices.

Aviation Analyst Mike Boyd said, "A lot of airline passengers today will not be passengers two years from now simply because the cost of air transportation is going to go up."

Spirto added, "Fuel prices are the primary cause for all the cut backs the airlines are making fundamentally the industry just doesn't work at the level of oil costs today."

But local passengers are still rolling their bags through the airport– regardless of the fuel flight. Airline officials say Peoria ranks high on keeping passengers on board.

Spirito said, "In and out of Peoria we're doing are best to keep as many flights here and talking with the airlines every single day."

With hope that maybe some day there will be some flight fuel relief, locally and across the country...I

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