By: Kathleen McLaughlin

October 6, 2005, Herald Tribune (Florida)

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport has attracted an American Airlines-affiliated carrier, adding a coveted direct flight to St. Louis to the airport's lineup.

Operating as AmericanConnection, Trans States Airlines will run one 50-seat jet a day to St. Louis. The service starts Dec. 15.

Airport Executive Director Fred Piccolo said AmericanConnection gives travelers access to western cities and increases the number of direct destinations, which there are few of from Sarasota-Bradenton.

If the planes fill up, Trans States might add more flights, said Bill Mishk, Trans States vice president of planning.

The staff at the airport, known as SRQ, had been courting Trans States for 18 months.

"We knew it was important to get ahead of the winter season," Mishk said.

Trans States is based in St. Louis, where American has its Midwest hub.

"Maybe that would be a harbinger of good things to come," said Aaron Gellman, a Northwestern University transportation expert. "(American) might be interested in a nonstop again. Sarasota's growing like crazy."

Gellman is familiar with Sarasota because he spends the winters at his condo on Lido Key.

American used to run its own flights from Sarasota-Bradenton to Miami on American Eagle, but the airline pulled out in April 2001, saying it lost $1.6 million on the service.

Piccolo has been trying to recoup the service that was lost when airlines started bailing in 1999.

The new AmericanConnection flight comes after Delta Air Lines, which recently entered bankruptcy, cut one flight to Atlanta and two flights to Cincinnati.

Piccolo said the airport will have more flights this winter than it had a year ago, mainly because AirTran will go from three flights a day to nine. US Airways will also have one or two more flights than last winter, Piccolo said.

Standing before a former United Airlines ticket counter that has been vacant since at least 1995, Piccolo welcomed American back to Sarasota.

American's ticket agents won't occupy the spot next to AirTran, however. US Airways will handle the AmericanConnection ticketing.

The announcement comes just days after American Airlines cut 15 flights from its schedule because of jet fuel costs. But Trans States will run a 50-seat regional jet.

More small jets could be waiting in the wings, Gellman said. "There is a growing excess supply of small jets. Airlines are looking for places to operate them. If Sarasota's airport is welcoming, I would expect service to expand over the next few years."

Several people who were boarding flights were pleased to hear about the new service, even if they didn't plan to use it themselves.

Paul and Alison Cresswell of Manchester, England, said they'd like to fly to Sarasota, instead of Orlando.

"We'd love the airport to expand, anything really," Paul Cresswell said.

Trans States is trying to keep prices competitive with similar flights out of Tampa, Mishk said.

American lists a base rate of $378 for the new flight, which will depart at 4:57 p.m.

American listed an evening flight from Tampa at $318.