Direct Air extends RFD-to-Fla. flights

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

Impressed by strong early sales, Direct Air has extended flights from Chicago Rockford International Airport to the Fort Myers, Fla., area and Myrtle Beach, S.C., into the summer.

Tickets are on sale for flights to Punta Gorda, Fla., 30 minutes northwest of Fort Myers, through Aug. 26. Tickets to Myrtle Beach are available through Sept. 7. Both routes were previously only scheduled through mid-May.

Punta Gorda service started in December and have been selling well, Direct Air President Ed Warneck said, while Myrtle Beach service starts March 12 and advance sales have been strong.

He cites Direct Air’s low fares — Myrtle Beach tickets start at $79 plus taxes and fees, while Punta Gorda starts at $99 plus taxes and fees — as the reason for its success in a recession.

“Everybody’s sensitive about what they’re spending on what,” he said. “We’ve had low fares from the start (while legacy carriers are cutting their fares). It just tells us that our thinking was on spot and they’re kind of switching over to our thinking.”

Direct Air is not a traditional airline. It leases aircraft and crew from airlines like Virgin America and USA Jet. Ticket sales go into an escrow account until flights actually take off, giving passengers security on their money.

Tickets are available at visitdirectair.com or at 877-432-3473.

Staff writer Thomas V. Bona may be contacted at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.

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