Expedia Expands Into Airport Services
FairCityNews.com | Dec 14, 2010 | Comments 0
Springfield, MO—The internet travel company Expedia recently opened a new operations center in the old terminal building at the Springfield Branson National Airport, and now they’re moving deeper into the travel industry by offering air traffic control services.
“We were already on the airport grounds, so we thought why not diversify and expand into air traffic control,” said Jack Hanover, VP of Operations for Expedia.
The company just finished erecting a control tower above their offices and they aim to offer airlines an alternative to the government-run control tower on the southwest side of the field.
Local traveler George Peterson welcomes the competition. “We need to get big government, with their highly trained professionals and outstanding safety record, out of aviation and encourage free market competition,” he said.
To work in the new tower, Expedia employees must complete a two-week course and purchase their own binoculars.
Newly-trained controller Travis Rothchild,18, has found his job very rewarding. “Just last week I hooked up a United Express flight with runway 14, which is closer to the terminal, when the other tower had given them runway 20. Saved them 3 minutes! Although it did put them on a collision course with a UPS plane that then had to take evasive action to avoid hitting them. But it’s all good!”
If this new endeavor is successful for Expedia, Hanover says they’ll likely look at competing in other government-dominated industries.
“We’ve been itching to get into food safety inspections and touching people’s swim suit areas.”
Filed Under: Business