Airlines make their pitches to serve Quincy Regional Airport

QUINCY — A packed house filled the Quincy City Council chambers Monday before the regularly scheduled meeting of the aldermen to hear from two airlines hoping to serve as the Essential Air Service provider for Quincy’s airport.

Representatives from Boutique Air and Southern Airways Express each were allotted 15 minutes to make their presentations and both airlines want to use single-engine aircraft to provide flights to Chicago and St. Louis. That is a change from Cape Air’s two-engine planes.

The issue there is, once Quincy opts to accept single-engine planes, it will be difficult to go back to twin-engine aircraft, according to federal regulations.

With Cape Air pulling out of Quincy and the city now scrambling to keep a commuter airline in place, the men who spoke at Monday night’s public hearing said single-engine planes are mostly likely the only option to continue service out of Baldwin Field.

Brian Kondrad of San Francisco-based Boutique Air, said Boutique will use a Pilatus PC-12 single-engine plane to service Quincy. The plane will always have two pilots, according to Kondrad.

Mark Cestari of Palm Beach, Fla.-based Southern Airways Express, said his company will also have two-pilots on their flights. Cestari said Southern will utilize Cessna Grand Caravan planes.

Cestari said Southern won’t have the cancellation problems that have plagued Cape Air. He said Southern has stepped in when Cape Air, and Boutique Air, have pulled out of other airports that serve smaller cities.

The Quincy Aeronautics Committee meets Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall to come up with a recommendation that will go to the full City Council.