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Green, Ohio —
Nonstop flights to Washington, D.C. are now offered by Akron-Canton Airport, a feature possibly resulting in positive economic ripples throughout Northeast Ohio.
“What a great way to start the new year,” Kristie Van Auken, the senior vice-president at CAK, said. In these economic times and we are actually adding a flight.”
Adding a route to the nation’s capitol is not a simple phone call and changing a few flight plans. Securing the spot was a decade long affair, fighting with other airlines across the country.
Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is one of a few airports that has slot control, said Rick McQueen, President and CEO of CAK.
“The spirit of the community made the difference,” McQueen said.
US Airways, the largest carrier in D.C., will be the airline for the flight.
CAK saw record breaking numbers in 2008, but McQueen said this announcement tops that.
“It doesn’t get more exciting than this,” he said.
Thanks went out to many groups - the community, the board of trustees, Green Mayor Dick Norton, and a host of other people. The person the speakers came back to, though, was former Congressman Ralph Regula.
Congressmen Tim Ryan, Betty Sutton and John Boccieri were all in attendance, along with Regula, to celebrate the event.
“It takes three of us to replace Ralph Regula,” joked Ryan. “I’ve been lucky to have followed in Regula’s footsteps.”
This service is another step in a plan to grow the technology in this area.
“We are trying to create a technology belt from Cleveland to Akron to Canton to Youngstown to Pittsburgh,” Ryan said. “This will help create jobs and legislation.”
Sutton also acknowledged Regula’s contributions to this new flight, along with the economic impact.
“Regula has a great legacy, this is a piece of it,” Sutton said. “This is a testament to what collaboration can do. In challenging times, we are on our way up.”
Regula, humble even with the showering of compliments, did not take sole credit for the flight.
“This happened because of teamwork,” Regula said. “This is about J-O-B-S. This is economic development, providing new jobs so young people stay in the community.”
He also thanked Fred Krum, the former director of CAK, who also pushed for this flight for years before his retirement.
Mayor Norton also emphasized the importance of what this could mean in terms of jobs in the area.
Nonstop flights to Washington, D.C. are now offered by Akron-Canton Airport, a feature possibly resulting in positive economic ripples throughout Northeast Ohio.
“What a great way to start the new year,” Kristie Van Auken, the senior vice-president at CAK, said. In these economic times and we are actually adding a flight.”
Adding a route to the nation’s capitol is not a simple phone call and changing a few flight plans. Securing the spot was a decade long affair, fighting with other airlines across the country.
Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is one of a few airports that has slot control, said Rick McQueen, President and CEO of CAK.
“The spirit of the community made the difference,” McQueen said.
US Airways, the largest carrier in D.C., will be the airline for the flight.
CAK saw record breaking numbers in 2008, but McQueen said this announcement tops that.
“It doesn’t get more exciting than this,” he said.
Thanks went out to many groups - the community, the board of trustees, Green Mayor Dick Norton, and a host of other people. The person the speakers came back to, though, was former Congressman Ralph Regula.
Congressmen Tim Ryan, Betty Sutton and John Boccieri were all in attendance, along with Regula, to celebrate the event.
“It takes three of us to replace Ralph Regula,” joked Ryan. “I’ve been lucky to have followed in Regula’s footsteps.”
This service is another step in a plan to grow the technology in this area.
“We are trying to create a technology belt from Cleveland to Akron to Canton to Youngstown to Pittsburgh,” Ryan said. “This will help create jobs and legislation.”
Sutton also acknowledged Regula’s contributions to this new flight, along with the economic impact.
“Regula has a great legacy, this is a piece of it,” Sutton said. “This is a testament to what collaboration can do. In challenging times, we are on our way up.”
Regula, humble even with the showering of compliments, did not take sole credit for the flight.
“This happened because of teamwork,” Regula said. “This is about J-O-B-S. This is economic development, providing new jobs so young people stay in the community.”
He also thanked Fred Krum, the former director of CAK, who also pushed for this flight for years before his retirement.
Mayor Norton also emphasized the importance of what this could mean in terms of jobs in the area.
“I think Congressman Ryan and Regula said it right what it means in terms of jobs,” Norton said.
Companies like First Energy, Firestone, Goodyear and Diebold can use it for business purposes, and it could have a positive effect on jobs Norton explained.
“Green is going to be a winner when the economy turns, Akron-Canton Airport is a reason for that,” he said.
The daily flight will depart at 6:20 a.m. and arrive at 7:38 a.m. The return flight will be at 7:59 p.m. and arrive back at CAK 9:21 p.m. People who want to take one day trips to D.C. will have that ability thanks to this new direct access at CAK.
The airport celebrated the event in two other ways. Olmsted Falls resident Jim McFadden and 11-year-old sister Julia won a “Dream Day in DC” contest. They flew on the inaugural flight to live out their dream day, where Jim showed her sister the nation’s capitol as he explained in his dream day entry.
Also stopping by to celebrate the event was President Abraham Lincoln.
“History is made at Akron-Canton Airport with this new service directly to Washington, D.C.”
Lincoln said. “You can get to Washington far easier than I did back in 1865.”
For more information about the flight to Washington D.C. along with all the other flights provided by CAK, visit www.akroncantonairport.com.
