By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The city of Cincinnati won't encourage the owner of a start-up airline to pursue charter service at Lunken Airport - but can't refuse it either, the city's transportation director said Monday.

Jetlink Express wants to start with charter turboprop service to St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland this year, and move on to a 50-seat regional jet. That service is now prohibited under Lunken's certification with the Federal Aviation Administration, and Cincinnati City Council has put a moratorium on any discussion about passenger service until the city completes an airport master plan necessary to change that certification.

Cincinnati Transportation and Engineering Director Eileen Enabnit said she will put the airline on notice that the city will not consider scheduled service until the master plan is done.

East-side residents told the Lunken Airport Oversight Advisory Board on Monday that they were "caught off guard" by the Jetlink proposal. And they accused the city of not doing enough to put the brakes on airport expansion.

"What part of the word `no' does the airport administration not understand?" said Doug Adams, a Mariemont village councilman. "As of the date City Council passed that ordinance, they should have ceased and desisted."

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com