Chattanooga airport and Volkswagen officials have talked about more air links than the nonstop to Detroit unveiled this week by Delta Air Lines.
Nonstops from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport to Houston and Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport are a pair of flights on the radar screen of local VW officials.
"VW is certainly an international company listened to very carefully by the airline industry," said Tom Edd Wilson, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's chief executive.
Direct flights between Chattanooga and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport would permit VW officials easy access to Puebla, Mexico, where the German automaker employs almost 15,000 workers in assembly and drivetrain production facilities.
Also, a number of supplier companies providing parts to the new midsize sedan to be made in Chattanooga operate in and around Puebla.
Mike Landguth, chief executive at Chattanooga's airport, said VW has expressed an interest in better connectivity to Puebla, and Continental Airlines could provide that service through its Houston hub.
"The airport coordinated a meeting between the airline and VW to discuss their travel needs and now the airline is reviewing its internal data to determine if the demand exists," he said.
Mr. Landguth said the proposed merger just announced between United Airlines and Continental may delay the process, but he believes Mexico is a growing market for local businesses.
He said that "it makes sense to have strong connecting options, and Continental would be a great solution."
Continental spokeswoman Christen David said the airport has advised it of increased interest in the Houston flight.
"Continental is continuously monitoring market conditions to assess if and where new routes are viable," she said.
D.C. LINK
Concerning Washington, VW's United States headquarters is in Herndon, Va., just a few miles from Dulles.
While US Airways flies nonstop to Washington, its flight is into Reagan National International Airport, which is in the heart of the city compared to more suburban Dulles.
Earlier this week, Delta announced a daily nonstop between Chattanooga and its Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport hub starting in September.
The airline in part cited the VW assembly plant, slated to start operations early next year, along with suppliers.
Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter wouldn't comment on potential talks about future routes.
VW declined comment on air route discussions.
Mr. Wilson said that for air carriers to start new routes is "a pretty big deal" considering the financial issues within the airline industry.
"They don't do that in cities in which they don't see a lot of promise," he said. "They've gone over travel patterns with a fine-tooth comb."
Mr. Wilson said Chattanooga having nonstop flights puts the Scenic City at a competitive advantage in terms of economic development.
"It's just good stuff," he said.
HOUSTON FLIGHTS
Continental Airlines had offered two flights a day between Lovell Field and Houston on 37-seat regional jets until the service was cut in 2008 as part of a plan by the carrier to trim service systemwide.