ADI settles with Via Airlines

Staff report

VIENNA

Aerodynamics Inc. has settled with the objectors to its application to provide flight service between Youngstown and Chicago.

ADI, based in Beechwood, Ohio, and Atlanta, advised the U.S. Department of Transportation in a letter dated Jan. 11 the dispute regarding legal fees and costs referenced by the objectors, Via Airlines and James Paquette, has been resolved.

“The objectors agreed to accept $10,500 as full and final settlement of all claims relating to collection costs and fees on the ADI Acquisition promissory note,” states the letter, submitted by the Hogan Lovells law firm on behalf of ADI.

ADI has been going back and forth with Paquette and Via after they made an initial objection to ADI receiving certification for the service between Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Via and Paquette objected because ADI failed to make $8,766 in payments on promissory note in August, September, October and November, they said.

ADI called the objection “moot because the note has been paid in full,” adding that the objection was a way for Via, a competitor, to retaliate.

The response also contained an emailed letter from ADI saying the company would be sending payment that day in excess of $410,000 for the remaining principal balance, interest and late fees on the $400,000 note to Paquette.

ADI contended the note, interest and late fees have been paid to the total of $710,000. What did remain were legal fees of about $32,000 the new ADI ownership asked to see broken down.

Now, the issue of legal fees has been settled.

The ADI Youngstown-Chicago service, if eventually approved, would provide 10 round-trip flights per week between the two airports on a 50-passenger plane.

In a comment on the docket for ADI’s application, Dan Dickten, director of aviation at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, wrote he would like to see the application move forward.

“The only loser here would be the Youngstown-Warren and surrounding communities who are depending on the daily airline service should the airline certification for ADI not be approved in a timely manner,” Dickten wrote.