Effort begun to entice Delta Air Lines to Champaign

<p>The University of Illinois and Champaign County businesses are putting together an attempt to entice Delta Air Lines to provide three roundtrip flights per day between Cincinnati and Champaign.</p><p>The Champaign County Economic Development Corp. is asking companies to commit more than $1 million to a ticket trust fund _ a guarantee that would let the airline serve the city for two years at little or no financial risk, executive director Jill Guth said.</p><p>The ticket trust will show community support to bring the service to Willard Airport in Savoy, just south of Champaign.</p><p>The University of Illinois, which owns the airport, has committed to half of the $1.3 million and is offering parking incentives at the airport for companies that pledge at least $25,000, Guth said.</p><p>Deltas commuter affiliate Atlantic Coast Airlines would provide the service. Officials have set a Feb. 1 deadline for putting the financial commitment together before contract talks begin with the airline.</p><p>Ticket trusts have been a successful way to lure airlines to other cities similar in size to Champaign, said Sean Williams, the development groups high-tech director.</p><p>American Eagle, American Connection and Northwest Airlines serve Willard Airport with flights to Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit, respectively.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x2857cc0)</p><p>HASH(0x2857d80)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/12/180988