“Sen. Bob Casey defends federal airport subsidy” reports: “Cape Air has been serving Lancaster since March 2009, again with EAS support. It gets an EAS subsidy of $1.37 million annually to fly to and from Baltimore-Washington International. Cape Air’s subsidy runs out Sept. 30, unless extended.”
WATCHDOG: Growl! Does anyone really believe that Lancaster needs commercial airline service? It only takes 40 to 45 minutes to arrive at the world class Harrisburg International Airport, perhaps half an hour longer than to get to the Lancaster airport, or an hour and a half to get to Philadelphia International Airport.
If the $1.37 million was used to provide free shuttle service to and from the Harrisburg airport, at $50 round trip it would pay for 27,400 commutes, or 75 a day, probably more than fly to Baltimore.
Dumb is dumb. If we are ever going to cut froth so that we can either fund important programs or reduce taxes, we should start right here at home.
Couldn’t a new Amtrak terminal to directly serve Harrisburg International Airport be built for a lot less than $1.37 million, especially since the main rail lines go directly through the airport property?
I don’t know if a subsidy is appropriate, but the Cape Air service is REALLY nice! You get the convenience of the Harrisburg airport but the prices of BWI. And without the cost of parking and the time spent driving to Baltimore, it pays for itself.
Harrisburg airport is the right way to go, but the service is so limited and the prices are often way too high.
Besides, I like looking down on those big houses near the airport.