EDITORIAL: Gary's airport should capitalize on the collapse of ATA Airlines

Times of Northwest Indiana

The sudden shutdown of ATA Airlines operations last week closed the door on direct flights to Mexico from Midway Airport.

Well, when one door closes, another opens. Gary/Chicago International Airport officials should work hard to persuade VivaAerobus to begin operating out of Gary as soon as possible.

VivaAerobus spokesman Juan Carlos Zuazua Cosio said the airline's plans are fixed through the end of the year, but next year has possibilities.

"The Chicago operation is almost 100 percent sure," Zuazua Cosio said.

Bringing VivaAerobus here will require the airport to spend $3 million to $4 million to build a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility to screen baggage and passengers. Airport Director Chris Curry hopes to seek funds from both the federal government and the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority to build it.

The airport has "international" in its name, so it makes sense to have the facility in place. Building it would encourage other international travel as well.

But the opportunity now is to get travelers who otherwise would use Midway to fly out of Gary instead. Passengers now have to travel all the way to O'Hare to get a direct flight to Mexico. Getting VivaAerobus to establish operations in Gary would give the Northwest Indiana airport an edge over Midway and make passengers more familiar with the airport.

That, in turn, could create some buzz that would draw other airlines to consider flying out of Gary.

Gary's airport needs a spark to ignite explosive growth in regularly scheduled passenger service. Is ATA's demise the opportunity Gary needs? Perhaps, but that requires moving quickly to take advantage of it.

Build the screening facility and help the airport do what's necessary to attract more airlines.