BY SHARON PORTA, Times of Northwest Indiana Correspondent
GARY | The search is always on for airlines that want to service the Gary/Chicago International Airport, according to Chris Curry, the airport's deputy director. But during these tough times for the airline industry, with bankruptcies and huge financial losses now common, airlines willing to expand services to additional airports are getting tougher to find.
Gary has been without passenger service since Hooters Air recently suspended its flights between Gary and airports in Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Columbus, Ohio, and St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla. Hooters also pulled out of other airports throughout the country.
"We are always in negotiations with other airlines, whether we have an airline here or not," Curry said. "But we only want to deal with an airline that is productive for the city. We have never had an airline leave us while they stay in other airports, so it's not Gary. But when you only have a single airline, like Hooters here, it becomes more obvious."
During Wednesday's monthly meeting of the airport's board of directors, Gary resident James Nowacki criticized the board, saying they should have been more embarrassed about Hooters' departure.
"The South Bend airport has six or eight carriers. Why doesn't Gary, which is serving a larger market?" Nowacki asked. "Let's at least promote active air service in South Bend through easy access from here on the South Shore. Let's not waste money on these non-starter airlines."