It’s disappointing that Frontier Airlines is halting its flights between Wichita and Denver beginning Nov. 16. The airline, which received a $500,000 annual subsidy through the Kansas Affordable Airfares Program in partnership with Wichita and Sedgwick County, helped curb airfares of flights headed west. Since Frontier began service in October 2007, traffic to the top Western markets is up 23 percent and fares are down 29 percent. Without any competitor, will United Airlines now jack up its fares for flights from Wichita through Denver? Airfares soared and passenger rates fell when Vanguard Airlines dropped its Wichita service in 1997.
Citizens who aren’t registered to vote must do so today if they want to vote in the Aug. 7 primaries. Applications can be submitted in person, online or by mail (must be postmarked by today). Go to www.voteks.org for more information, or call the Sedgwick County Election Office at 316-660-7100. Former Wichita Mayor Elma Broadfoot is helping lead an effort to encourage Democrats to reregister and switch parties (the deadline is also today) so they can vote in the GOP primaries – particularly for races such as Sedgwick County district attorney in which there is no Democrat in the general election. Not many people tend to respond to such appeals, however, so it is unlikely to have an impact on the outcomes of races.
It’s disappointing that Frontier Airlines is halting its flights between Wichita and Denver beginning Nov. 16. The airline, which received a $500,000 annual subsidy through the Kansas Affordable Airfares Program in partnership with Wichita and Sedgwick County, helped curb airfares of flights headed west. Since Frontier began service in October 2007, traffic to the top Western markets is up 23 percent and fares are down 29 percent. Without any competitor, will United Airlines now jack up its fares for flights from Wichita through Denver? Airfares soared and passenger rates fell when Vanguard Airlines dropped its Wichita service in 1997.
