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Show Used by Hughes The decision from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) that will allow Hughes Airwest to discontinue service to Cedar City effective August 12, marks the conclusion to a long struggle in which big business working to becoming bigger, has succeeded. suc-ceeded. Our only real concern, based on the absolute lack of service that Hughes has provided to make their own case, is that as a community and area we were taken. Oh for the good old days of Bonanza when we had adequate service, at a reasonable rate to connect with major "trunk" lines. Those really-were the good old days. But then three small airlines including Bonanza decided to to merge-to become bigger. The next step was a sell out to Hughes to establish Hughes Airwest. Up to that point there was still some good service, connections con-nections to most major airlines and the organization wa was still in the business of "feeder" serving major trunk lines. Then the visions of grandeur by Hughes. They wanted to get . in on the action between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, Nev. Who did they call on to plead their case? Cedar City. And we gave them the ammunition to load their guns. A delegation from Cedar City traveled to Washington, D. C. to tell of the fine service that Hughes Airwest was providing. Hughes promised extended service to Cedar City, connections to Las Vegas to be added to the service-but, please support us on our appeal to the CAB for the Salt Lake - Las Vegas run. So we went to Washington and we pleaded. CAB was impressed. im-pressed. They awarded the contract to Hughes Airwest and at that point Cedar City could drop dead as far as Hughes Air West was concerned. They were no longer a "feeder" airlines, "We're a major airline now," the big gun stated. That began the move to get rid of Cedar City. Cedar City's use for Airwest was no longer vital. So schedules were changed, prices were increased, service became deplorable to the point that the service was invalid, of no use to the community. With that background Hughes Airwest went running to the CAB with the story that the boardings at Cedar City do not justify continuation of service. Look at our records --1 can just hear them: "We're losing money every day." Sure they were and apparently on purpose. Cedar City extended the airport runway to accomodate the new airplanes promised by Hughes Air West, the government supported that proposition with a huge grant. But Hughes Air West persisited. CAB did not cave in on the first go around so the service was reduced. Hughes Air West began printing Sky West's schedules in their publications to encourage more use of the smaller airline. So naturally the service got worse. The appeal was made again to CAB and the case was approved. After August 12 no more Hughes Air West in Cedar City. It's not a tragic loss, since the service was so poor that it was useless, but it's the way the community was used that really grates. Now we have a smaller airline, Skywest, who appears to be trying to offer a valid service. Meanwhile we can truly say that "we've been used by Hughes." |