Texas Air Shuttle plans to launch soon; Expand to Rogers in next year

ROGERS -- An air shuttle designed for business travelers will start in Texas next month and plans to expand to Rogers Municipal Airport by the end of the year, officials said Thursday.

Texas Air Shuttle, out of the Houston area, will offer unlimited air travel to members who pay a monthly fee, said Stephen Geldmacher, company CEO. Members also will save time avoiding delayed or overbooked flights and invasive airport screenings, he said.

"It is like the private flying experience without the private jet price tag," Geldmacher said.

The company is in the process of applying for its Federal Aviation Administration certification, and it's expected to be approved mid-March, Geldmacher said. Once it's approved, the company will start running shuttles from Houston to Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio.

Rogers airport will be a part of the first wave of expansion near the end of 2015, Geldmacher said.

"We have been able to establish a good relationship with them and they meet our needs for an airport," Geldmacher said.

Business travelers have the ability to park and catch a flight at the Rogers airport within a matter of minutes, Geldmacher said. The airport offers the hassle-free environment the company wants, he said.

Members will pay about $2,850 per month for an unlimited plan, the company's website states. It states companies can pay $4,900 a month for flight privileges for two employees. The company does background checks on its members.

The company uses Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft, according to a news release. The planes have twin engines and will fly with two pilots. Jets will be added as the company grows.

David Krutsch, Rogers Municipal Airport manager, said Texas Air Shuttle would be the first of its type in the area. There isn't another businesses in Northwest Arkansas that charges a fee for unlimited travel, he said.

"It is an additional option that will be available to travelers," Krutsch said. "Our frequent travelers might want to pursue this as a more convenient option."

The shuttle also could bring more revenue to the airport, Krutsch said, although he didn't know how much.

"If they buy fuel here, then we will receive revenue from the fuel flow," Krutsch said. "It also will produce additional revenue and sales from people purchasing stuff in the airport."

Krutsch said he is "looking forward" to starting services with the company.

Geldmacher said Northwest Arkansas is a good location to expand. He lives in Farmington and commutes to Houston, sometimes using Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport at Highfill.

"I have traditionally flown out of XNA, there are limited flights, [and] many times I have had flights canceled or on standby," Geldmacher said. "It has taken me up to three days to get out of Northwest Arkansas."

There is also a market need in the area, Geldmacher said.

"When you think of all the various vendors of Wal-Mart that are there, they have a tremendous need to fly between their markets," Geldmacher said "We firmly believe that is going to be one of our best markets."

Wal-Mart, headquartered in Bentonville, keeps planes at Rogers Municipal Airport and flies out of there.

Texas Air Shuttle also expects to expand to cities in Louisiana and Oklahoma during its first expansion. Geldmacher said other cities in Arkansas, such as Little Rock and Texarkana, could be a part of later expansions.

Geldmacher said his goal is for the company to fly 250 flights a day in the next three years.

NW News on 02/20/2015

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