diburning

On Monday June 26, 2017, a post popped up on my Facebook feed from Rectrix Aviation (ICAO:RIX) with a sudden announcement that inaugural service from Worcester Regional Airport (ORH/KORH) Worcester, MA to Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYA/KHYA) Hyannis, MA would begin on Thursday June 29, and that there would be special pricing to commemorate the launch of this service. I had Friday the 30th off from work, and decided to try this new service as I live in Boston, and Worcester is not too much of a hike to get to. Rectrix Aviation is registered as an FAR Part 135 charter and commuter airline.

Background on Rectrix Aviation

Founded in 2005, Rectrix Aviation started their business as a FBO at Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYA/KHYA). In 2009, Rectrix began charter operations by purchasing New World Jet Corporation and their Air Carrier Certificate, and currently operates with a fleet of Learjet 45XR and Bombardier Challenger 300. Rectrix has since expanded and operates multiples FBOs in Massachusetts, as well as Sarasota, FL.

In December 2015, Island Airlines (of Nantucket, MA) abruptly shut down. Island Airlines operated regular commuter and cargo flights between Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK/KACK), and Barnstable Municipal Airport. In February 2016, Rectrix applied to the USDOT for the authority to operate the route that Island Air once operated. Rectrix obtained approval to operate the route the same year. Rectrix Aviation obtained two Beechcraft 300 Super King Air aircraft and thus Rectrix Shuttle began commuter operations between Nantucket and Barnstable Muni.

In October 2016, Rectrix announced that it intends to serve Worcester Regional Airport, and offer daily commercial flights to Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI/KBWI) within the next year. The carrier intends to obtain two CRJ-200 aircraft, with seating for up to 30 passengers.

On June 26, 2017, Rectrix made an unexpected announcement that service from Worcester Regional Airport would commence on June 29 with a daily roundtrip flight serving Barnstable Muni.

Booking



I decided to try this new service since I had a day off and Worcester is fairly local to where I live (Boston). For the price of the promotional fare, it was worth it to me to try something new. The regular fare for this route is $299 one way, and the promotional fare is just under half price at $149.
From Jul 5 to Sept 4, the fare is only $99 each way and is fully refundable!



As I was starting my trip at ORH, I could only fly one way, as the plane begins its roundtrip from Barnstable Muni.

I began to look at train schedules to see if a one-way trip is doable. I found that I was able to take the train (MBTA Commuter Rail) to Worcester, fly on the Rectrix Shuttle flight, and then take the train (MBTA/MassDOT Cape Flyer) back from Hyannis.

The booking process was very straightforward, and is similar to booking a flight on other commuter carriers such as Cape Air (9K/KAP), and is not too different from booking a flight on a larger commercial carrier.



After booking, I was immediately sent an email with my itinerary with a confirmation code. The email indicated that I must check in at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure, and that the gate closes 15 minutes before departure.

I was curious to see if Rectrix offered online check-in and was slightly disappointed to see that they didn’t. However, I happened to mouse over the “Check in 24 hours before your flight” words on their website and found that it was a link to an online check in page. I was able to check in online without any problems and printed my boarding pass at home the day before departure.



There were only two nitpicks I had with the website. The online check in button isn’t clear that it’s a button, and most of the information provided at booking and in the email did not indicate that online check in was an option. The only other nitpick I had was that the flight status box is tiny, has tiny font, and is not on the front page.

The Airport

Up until this point, Worcester Regional Airport only has one active carrier, JetBlue, with service to Orlando (MCO/KMCO) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL/KFLL) in Florida. Rectrix has become the second. Worcester Regional was served by many carriers in the past, but all of them have pulled out as Worcester Regional is in an odd geographical area in relation to other airports. Travelers to the west have the choice of going to Albany International Airport (ALB/KALB), travelers to the south have the option of going to Hartford Bradley International (BDL/KBDL), and travelers to the north and east have the options of Boston Logan International (BOS/KBOS), Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT/KHT), and Providence TF Green International Airport (PVD/KPVD). Previous services at Worcester Regional did not last very long, although JetBlue’s current operation involves a deal with Massport which guarantees a minimum passenger load.



As Rectrix is the FBO operator at both Worcester and Barnstable Muni, I expected the flight to operate from the FBOs as it would make sense to do so, since Rectrix would not have to lease counter or gate space. However, I found that Rectrix does welcome their Shuttle passengers through the main passenger terminal. Their ticket counter is shared with a car rental company, Thrifty, as it appears that JetBlue has taken all of the counter space at the small terminal. I was told that the flight would depart out of gate 5, and was happy to find out that the flight would be operating from a gate. Or so I thought…

As I tried to pass through the TSA checkpoint, I was told that Gate 5 was not accessible from that checkpoint and that I should visit the Rectrix counter for assistance. I went to the Rectrix counter and was told that I needed to wait to be escorted airside by airline employees when the flight is boarding.


Yes, this is pre-security/landside/non-sterile. "Gate" 5 and 6 are through those unmarked doors.

I was very early as I had left myself plenty of time just in case, so I sat in the small seating area in the pre-security area of the terminal by the door. The airport police became concerned, thinking that I was loitering in the terminal, but a visit to the Rectrix counter cleared up any confusion, as the police were not aware of this flight, and were not aware that the waiting area for this flight happened to be next to baggage claim.



Before boarding, I was given a paddle with a boarding position. It turns out that the boarding passes are a formality, and that the paddles are handed out at check-in so that only passengers with paddles are allowed to board. The paddle is surrendered to the ground crew before boarding.

As this is a new service, the Rectrix counter agent handed out commemorative Vineyard Vines branded tote bags with the Rectrix logo on it for passengers flying on June 29 and 30.


A $60 value!

The Flight



The incoming flight arrived, and passengers and the pilots walked into the non-sterile area of the terminal via the unmarked door. After half an hour, at the time of departure indicated on the ticket, the pilots greeted the passengers and escorted us from the non-sterile area of the airport through the unmarked door to the tarmac.




I picked the rearmost seat on the Beechcraft 300 Super King Air. The rearmost seat, next to the boarding door, has the best views as it is not obstructed by the wing or the engines.



We taxiied past the Jetblue flight to Orlando, which was boarding at an adjacent gate.



There are nine seats for passengers on the Beechcraft 300 Super King Air. The seats are quite comfortable for the short flight. The seats are plastic, but had black cloth covers on them to add the seatback pocket for the safety card. The seats are quite narrow, with a total width of about 15-16 inches including the armrest on the aisle side. However, the armrests are retractable and fold down into the seat forming part of the cushion, so almost anyone will fit into the seats. The seat pitch is quite generous, perhaps 32-33 inches. Seats do not recline, but the seats do fold forward for additional space if no one is sitting in front of you. Underseat storage is limited, but the entire rear end of the aircraft is a bag storage area for any checked bags or carry-ons passengers may bring.




The only caveat with the last seat is that the wind noise from the boarding door is quite loud, but the flight is short and scenic, so it's worth it! A video of the takeoff roll is included at the bottom of this post.



As this is a small plane, there’s no separation between the flight deck and the cabin. I could see the digital displays in the glass cockpit.



Moving map inflight entertainment

View of the approach path

As we had a tailwind, we began our initial approach after about 14 minutes of flight.



We landed at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, MA on Runway 24. We taxiied over to the terminal and exited the aircraft onto the tarmac.

http://hostthenpost.org/uploads/d4e3...f22980031d.jpg

The aircraft was parked next to Rectrix’s other B300, which operates the Rectrix Shuttle flight between Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK/KACK) and Barnstable Muni.



We were escorted to a door which led to the non-sterile area of the terminal.




After a coffee break to write this trip report, I walked to Hyannis Transportation Center where I took the MBTA/MassDOT Cape Flyer train back to Boston.



Final Thoughts

Everyone at Rectrix was very nice and friendly. The flight was scenic and pleasant, and the booking process was not bad. Despite the slight confusion over how things work at the airport, the booking process and the flight were seamless, and customers who normally fly the major commercial airlines will enjoy Rectrix Shuttle. The fact that there is no TSA check is a huge plus. The quick flight allowing people to dodge traffic is worth every penny of the fares that Rectrix is charging. (Worcester to Boston is about an hour’s drive, and Boston to Hyannis is an hour and a half to two hours drive without traffic. With the summer traffic backing up over the two bridges over the Cape Cod Canal, the time savings is definitely worth it!) I will definitely fly with Rectrix Shuttle again should I need to go somewhere that they serve, and when they start their ORH-BWI service I’ll try that as well! I wish them the best of luck in their new venture.

will2288

Looking forward to it!

diburning

Revised review has been posted!

Cloudship

The good old meat counter style of boarding! that is how they do it on the Islands, too.

Good to see ORH getting more service. I would love to see them add connections to not just HYA but maybe Bar Harbor, Portland, and Burlington Vt.