Hooters Air to fly Rockford-Atlanta route

<p>Hooters Air will begin offering nonstop flights out of the Greater Rockford Airport in early 2005 to Denver, Atlanta and Las Vegas, officials said.</p><p>The airport agreed in a 4-2 vote Wednesday to waive fees and offer a $2 million guarantee to protect Hooters Air from losses on the routes.</p><p>Fares to the three cities will start at $99, said airport executive director Bob O'Brien. Hooters will fly to Atlanta and Denver four days a week and to Las Vegas twice a week beginning Jan. 31.</p><p>"My colleagues in the airport industry will be knocked out by the fact we've got this opportunity," O'Brien said.</p><p>Hooters Air will take over the Rockford-to-Las Vegas route currently operated by TransMeridian Airlines, which will continue flights to Orlando with connections to San Juan, Puerto Rico and seven Caribbean destinations.</p><p>Mary Gorman and Gwyn Gulley, board members representing the city of Rockford, voted against the Hooters Air deal. Gorman said she did not have enough information and felt the risks of the deal were unknown.</p><p>Hooters Air is owned by Atlanta-based Hooters of America Inc., the owner of the Hooters restaurant chain known for its scantily clad waitresses. Each flight features two "Hooters Girls" who work alongside fully trained flight attendants.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/11/156086