Regular in-state flights to Indy might resume

SOUTH BEND – Plans are in the works for an airline to start making regular direct flights to Indianapolis from South Bend and Evansville, officials said.\nThe South Bend Airport Authority on Thursday gave preliminary approval to the proposal by Massachusetts-based Cape Air to offer daily flights on Cessna planes that could carry up to nine passengers on an hour-long route.\nThe arrangement, which would begin Oct. 31 and last for at least seven months, also would include Evansville-to-Indianapolis flights, said John Schalliol, the South Bend Regional Airport’s executive director.\n“I just think there’s real potential in the future to make this a real viable alternative to driving your car down to Indy,” Schalliol said. “A lot of people won’t do it initially, but I think over time they’ll try it.”\nThe South Bend airport last had regular flights to Indianapolis in 2005 before they were cut because of an airline bankruptcy, Schalliol said.\nCape Air and the U.S. Department of Transportations must still approve the flight arrangement. Cape Air offers regional flights in the Cape Cod area, along with Florida, the Caribbean and Micronesia, according to the company’s Web site.\nThe South Bend airport currently has regular flights to several cities outside Indiana, including Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit.