New flights planned from Toledo Express Airport; fares start as low as $9 one-way

5/26/2009

A Florida-based company expects to announce on Wednesday its plans for new airline service between Toledo and two cities using 189-seat, jet aircraft beginning in July, with a third route to start in August.

JetAmerica s tentative schedule includes flights between Toledo and Newark, N.J., daily except Saturday, plus twice-weekly service to Melbourne, Fla., starting July 13. Thrice-weekly flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul are to begin Aug. 14.

Fares will start as low as $9 one-way plus taxes and fees, with at least 19 seats on each Boeing 737-800 aircraft at the bargain price. Passengers will be allowed up to two carry-on bags at no charge, but fees will be collected for all checked baggage, snacks and drinks, and in-flight entertainment.

The first year of service will be subsidized with a $400,000 federal Small Cities Air Service grant, matched by $200,000 in Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority funds, plus local marketing assistance.

Michael Stolarczyk, the port authority s president, said he is "totally excited about the opportunity of having big-jet service in Toledo," especially with a Newark schedule that will support same-day business travel to the New York metropolitan area.