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Traveling Business-Class Blues
Topics: Business Travel, Travel, airlines
Posted by slowpOak Mon Jun 9, 2008 10:57:27 PDT
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Re: Letter to the Editor – “Steps to keep ExpressJet”

 
The local businessman that recently made an impassioned plea to keep a regional airline from pulling out of town, suggesting certain steps the carrier might take in order to maintain service between Bakersfield and other regional hubs, must not realize that he’s witnessing the demise of the commercial airline industry.
 
He seems to think that the airline is leaving because ridership is down or taxes are too high – he suggested waiving the terminal and landing fees for a year – a reaction similar to implementing a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax in order to alleviate skyrocketing fuel prices (nice try Hillary, even you don’t believe this will actually work – neither do the voters, ha ha). 
 
I imagine him on bended knee – he writes, “Please ExpressJet, give this thing just a little more time” à la Ike Turner to Tina  – begging the energy gods for a few more years of abundance. 
 
Sorry folks, no amount of genuflection will keep us driving, flying, and living large like we are used to, even for “business fliers, city and county officials, state legislators, congressmen, their staffs,” fat cats, billionaires, and any other underprivileged segments of our population that need every financial break they can get, and can’t imagine a world in which their every whim and fancy is not immediately realized.
 
In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing a few of those legislators and county officials actually utilizing the public transportation system that they have, in their infinite wisdom, failed to develop adequately, which, along with their laissez-faire attitudes toward real estate development, resulted in the abomination which is mile after mile of 2,500 square foot homes forming living arrangements that have no plan B (what do you mean there’s gasoline available at any price???!!!), also known as the City of Bakersfield (life as it should be…)
 
Furthermore, this deluded, entitled mindset is a threat to real progress in the early days of this national energy emergency because rallying resources to preserve the status quo will ultimately prove to be futile and will misdirect those resources from projects that actually can help our society cope with oil scarcity – projects such as regional and local rail development along with increased funding for alternative energy projects (e.g. nuclear, solar, and wind power). 
 
I suggest the letter writer grow wings or take the GET bus.

See original letter below:

 

ExpressJet is our only non-stop flight to Sacramento and San Diego. Besides business fliers, like myself, ExpressJet is the best and only realistic means of transportation for our city and county officials, state legislators, congressmen, their staffs, as well as our college, university and other local officials.

Using other airlines to get to Sacramento can take seven to nine hours one-way and cost $75 to $200 more than an Express Jet flight. Driving to Sacramento takes a horrible, time-wasting five-plus hours one way.

ExpressJet offers a great product and already has an established ridership in Bakersfield. This is a huge opportunity for our community to "jet ahead" as a player in California's bigger picture.

Before allowing ExpressJet to totally pull out of the Bakersfield airport, please consider these options:

* Temporarily discontinue the Saturday and Sunday flights, while preserving the workweek schedule as it currently stands. The Monday flight to Sacramento is always full.

* Encourage ExpressJet to raise its round-trip prices by $50 to $75 in order to recoup costs. Because they are really the only game in town, I absolutely believe that folks will still frequent their service; especially if they know this is the only way to maintain this vital connection.

* Waive or greatly reduce the airport terminal and landing fees for a period of one year.

Please, ExpressJet, give this thing just a little more time.

This really would seem to be a relatively easy business decision for the City of Bakersfield. Without a direct flight to and from these two major urban centers, our business advantage will shrink.

CHUCK ADKINS

Bakersfield

 

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