Funjet service stops before it starts
ROCKFORD — Funjet Vacations will not provide air service from Chicago/Rockford International Airport to two Mexico leisure destinations in 2006, the Rockford Register Star confirmed Wednesday.
The decision by the Milwaukee-based vacation company comes just three months after Funjet announced it would provide seasonal, weekly service from Rockford to Puerto Vallarta and twice-weekly service from Rockford to Cancun. The service was to be offered starting in January through April.
Customers with reservations will be offered a flight from another airport or a refund.
Funjet spokeswoman Holly Botsford said consumer demand for Cancun flights was not strong enough to continue the service. She said Puerto Vallarta service was affected because of aircraft availability due to the decision to end the Cancun flights, among other reasons.
Airport officials were not immediately available for comment.
This is the third airline or air-service provider that has announced plans to end service at the Chicago/Rockford International Airport in as many weeks. Hooters Air announced Dec. 8 that it would end operations in Rockford by Jan. 5. On Dec. 5, airport officials announced that they and Northwest Airlines officials had agreed to end that company’s daily flights to Detroit by Jan. 3.
A fourth airline, TransMeridian Airlines, which was providing service from Rockford to Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., abruptly ceased all operations at airports nationally in late September. TMA later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines later picked up TMA’s destinations and increased its frequency from Rockford. Apple Vacations is expected to soon start seasonal service from Rockford to Cancun. United Airlines is scheduled to start daily service to Denver in March.
Contact: hhixson@rrstar.com; 815-987-1343