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USA3000 Revives Flights To Chicago

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

CLEARWATER - USA3000 Airlines said Thursday it plans to resume service in mid-December at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.

The airline said it initially plans nonstop flights six days a week to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Introductory fares on flights each day, except Saturday, will be $94.99 each way. Based in suburban Philadelphia, the airline flies 168-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

The airline may add other destinations, depending on aircraft availability, airport officials said.

USA3000 was the second-busiest airline at the Pinellas County airport before discontinuing service out of the airport in August to six destinations. Fuel prices added $60 a seat, and the airline said it could not maintain profitability. However, fuel prices have declined in recent weeks.

In August, Pinellas airport officials put together a petition drive that gathered 7,000 signatures asking the airline to return service to the area. Airport director Noah Lagos delivered the petition to USA3000 executives.

"This is the result of good fortune and some good work," Lagos said. "The airline executives said that if it were financially viable they would return."

USA3000's return will provide another business boost to the Pinellas airport, where Allegiant Air has announced it plans five new nonstop destinations this fall and winter. With those added destinations, Allegiant will offer a total of 20 destinations out of St. Petersburg-Clearwater.

Because of USA3000 and Allegiant's seasonal service suspensions, September's passenger traffic at the airport fell 75 percent, compared with the same month last year, to 9,220 passengers. "We are coming back" Lagos said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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