Page 2B/The BattalionAThursday, April 1, 1983
|1
Flying just for business
Air 1 looking to prosper
United Press International
ST. LOUIS — Despite the re
cession and the proliferation of
discount air fares, officials of a
new airline say they can prosper
by offering the business traveler
luxury accommodations at
coach prices.
“This is what the business
person has been wanting for a
long time,” said James C. John
ston, senior vice president of Air
1.
The new airline began sche
duled {lights April 1 from its
home base of St. Louis to New
York, Washington, Dallas-Fort
Worth and Kansas City, Mo. In
keeping with its business orien
tation, Air 1 Hies only on week
days and Saturday mornings.
Each gray and white Boeing
727 used by Air 1 is outfitted
with 80 leather-covered seats,
compared with the 1 19 seats
normally installed in the air
craft.
Blue-suited stewardesses
serve passengers their choice of
several entrees on china. Tablec
loths are white linen and several
wines are offered. Each diner is
given a warm towel for his
hands.
Copies of the Wall Street
Journal and other business pub
lications are provided on board.
In-flight telephone service will
be added this year.
“Since deregulation, the ma
jor airlines have been squeezing
down the size of the seats and
squeezing the businessman who
has to fly,” said Johnston, who
spent 24 years in the airline busi
ness — mostly with USAir and
its predecessor, Allegheny — be
forejoining Air 1.
vice at coach prices by off ering a
standard fare, with no dis
counts, which most business
travelers are ineligible for any
way. For example, every Air 1
passenger flying from St. Louis
to New York pays the same un
restricted $242 one-way fare.
“Keep in mind that approxi
mately 60 percent of business
travelers already are paying full
coach fare,” Johnston said.
Short Classics
St. Louis was chosen as the
hub of the new airline because of
the many large companies head
quartered in the city. The city’s
central location allows the rela
tively small 727s to fly non-stop
to either coast.
Former Apollo astronaut
Eugene A. Cernan, now a I lous-
ton businessman, is chairman of
the board of Air 1. Long-time
Ozark Air Lines traf f ic manager
and executive assistant Paul J.
Rodgers is president and chief
executive.
You'll like the high quality
that sets our shorts apart
from the rest.
Freedom of movement,
smooth clean lines,?durable
construction give our shorts
a superb fit, with good looks
that last 4 last.
“The business market out of
St. Louis is very heavy,” John
ston said.
An industry analyst said he
believes the improving economy
could be a key to Air f’s success.
“For the last few months, the
economy has been getting bet
ter. We believe this is the time to
start a new airline, Johnston
said.” “We’re a little bit different
than other airlines started since
deregulation,” he said.
“They’re taking routes that
are heavily traveled,” said David
C. Jones of Metro Trust Co. in
St. Louis, “ t he economy is a lac-
tor. If they’re down around 50
percent occupancy or so, they’re
going to show some consider
able losses.
Aerospace Engineers tnll of wind
he bn
Air 1 officials said they can
afford to provide first-class ser-
“Obviously, they know what
they’re doing.”
The first supersonic wind tunnel
bought by Texas A&M Aerospace
Engineering department is in the
process of being set up. Helping
are aerospace engineering majors.
Dave Doucette, a senior from Si
Antonio, left, Ray Wil, g en , _ u
sophomore from Arlington Heijtl he a
Ill., and Robert Nerwin, a sen
from Corpus Christi.
geram
Cusi
lioff,
mgn
not c
y alon
;ico b
he g
Getyour career off toaflying start while youVestiD in
This is a great opportunity for men who
want to be leaders and have the drive to
earn the respect and self-confidence of
a Marine Corps Officer.
You can get started on a great career
with us while you’re still in college and
earn up to $100 a month in the Marine
Corps Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). In
PLC aviation we can guarantee flight
school and civilian flying lessons during
your senior year. And in PLC law we can
guarantee summer employment in the
legal field while you’re gaining your
advanced degree in law.
There are no interruptions of classes,
no on-campus drills or uniforms during
the school year. Initial training can be
done in one of two ways. Freshmen and
sophomores train in two six-week sum
mer sessions and juniors have one
ten-week session.
If you're entering college or are already
on your way to a degree, check out the
Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class.
Make an appointment with your Marine
Corps Officer Selection Officer through
your college placement center.
JC
h
“-"IT
Stop in soon and pick your
favorites from the original
designs that many have tried
to copy. Men's 4 women's
sizes in a wide range of
styles 4 beautiful colors.
WHOLE LARTH
PROVISION COMPANY
105 Boyett 846-8794 J
Maybeyoucanbeon
dTbe Marines-
£