City officials are terminating ValuJet Inc.'s lease at MidwayAirport, a move that will limit the carrier's ability to serveChicago when it resumes operations.
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors will board ValuJettest flights today and Wednesday to determine whether theAtlanta-based carrier can resume passenger service, with the end ofnext week as a target.
But because the carrier has not announced what cities will beserved - and because ValuJet has not returned phone calls fromChicago officials - the city is taking back the gate.
"We haven't been able to get an answer," said Barrett Murphy, aspokesman for the Aviation Department, which has had discussions withother carriers that are interested in taking over the space.
If ValuJet does want to offer service at Midway, it might beable to use one of two city-controlled gates used by smallerairlines.
Before a May 11 crash in the Florida Everglades that killed 110people, ValuJet service at Midway included five daily trips toAtlanta and three to Washington, D.C.
If the airline passes FAA inspections, ValuJet hopes to servefive cities from Atlanta with seven aircraft, then expand itsschedule to 15 aircraft and 17 cities within 45 days, said spokesmanGregg Kenyon.
ValuJet also is awaiting word on a request submitted to theTransportation Department last week, to begin selling tickets andadvertising its fares and flight schedule on radio and in print.
In preparation for its return, ValuJet has recalled 70 pilotsand 100 flight attendants. It will begin training 175 customerservice representatives and 180 reservations agents this week, butthose employees will not be put back on the payroll until ValuJet isallowed to fly, Kenyon said.
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