What's On District's `to Do' List For '02-03

Absenteeism Draining Pool Of Substitutes 
In Some Area School Districts, Students Aren't The Only Ones Missing Time
Because Of Illness.

By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@leader.net
 Friday, February 08, 2002 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C 





PITTSTON TWP. - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport officials have
high hopes business will take off with the addition of three daily flights to
Atlanta. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We've got it here, and it's a great, great service to the traveling
public,'' said Lackawanna County Commissioner Joseph Corcoran on Thursday,
announcing the expanded service by Comair, the Delta Connection regional
airline. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The additional three nonstop, round-trip flights start May 16 and come at a
time when the airport is struggling to attract travelers who go elsewhere for
cheaper fares and more service. Last year's passenger totals were down almost
15 percent from 2000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Atlanta connection re-establishes a route Delta discontinued in 1996,
said Corcoran, who serves as vice chairman of the bi-county board of
commissioners that operates the airport. Six years ago, Delta pulled its jets
to where they could be more competitive in southern markets, he said, not
because the connection was unprofitable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We all had to be patient here,'' Corcoran said. Delta had told airport
officials that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was at the top of the airline's list for
expanding Comair's regional jet service, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Comair expects to take delivery of 36 new Canadair regional jets by the end
of the year, said Cindy LaBoiteaux, a Comair spokeswoman. The jets seat 40 to
50 people. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Comair currently offers three, nonstop round-trip flights to Delta's second
largest hub in Cincinnati. The additional service to Hartsfield Atlanta
International Airport, Delta's largest hub, provides travelers access to more
than 880 daily flights and 210 domestic and international destinations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Airport Director Barry Centini said Atlanta has been a priority market and
it took visits, letters and ``tons of telephone calls'' to re-establish the
connection. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 With competition intense for air service, air carriers devote their
resources to where they can make money. Centini said the airport is going to
do its best to hold onto the route it fought hard to get. ``We're excited
about it. We're going to do everything we can to make this service work.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport has just begun a more than $60 million
expansion, including a new parking garage, connecting roads and terminal.
Better facilities translate into better service and contribute to economic
development, airport officials said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We're trying to rebuild the economy of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This is
just a part of it,'' said Luzerne County Commissioner Tom Makowski, who heads
the bi-county airport board. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The added flights plus the expansion will pay off for travelers and the
area's economy, said Austin Burke, head of the Greater Scranton Chamber of
Commerce. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``What's your airport service like?'' is one of the questions asked by
company officials considering bringing work here, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Burke echoed Corcoran's urging to business and leisure travelers to start
their trips from here. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Please fly out of this airport. It's good for all us.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7237. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Comair's Atlanta service flight times: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Comair will begin nonstop round-trip service from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
International Airport to Atlanta/Hartesfield International Airport beginning
May 16. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Departures times from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton: 6:20 a.m., 12:50 p.m. and
6:35 p.m. Arrival times at Atlanta/Hartesfield are 8:42 a.m., 3:12 p.m. and
8:57 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Departure times from Atlanta/Hartesfield: 9:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
Arrival times at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are 11:40 a.m., 6:10 p.m. and 11:55
p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Airport Bosses Bank On Public Using Atlanta Routes