Mesa Airlines to leave Athens on April 14

ATHENS - Athens&#39; only air passenger service intends to halt flights between Athens-Ben Epps Aiport and Charlotte, N.C., on April 14. <br> <br> The aiport director said federal officials told him the government would require Mesa Airlines to continue to serve Athens until another carrier could be found. <br> <br> Phoenix, Ariz.-based Mesa Airlines owns CCAir Inc., which does business in Athens as US Airways Express, which operates three daily flights into and out of Athens. It carried 8,085 passengers last year, down from almost 16,000 in 1994. <br> <br> Airport director Tim Beggerly said U.S. Department of Transportation told him the airport qualified for federal subsidies under the Essential Air Service Program.<br> <br> The program should help Athens keep an airline serving the community and the federal grants coming, Beggerly said. <br> <br> ``It appears we will maintain air service in Athens indefinitely,&#39;&#39; Beggerly said.