Regional Airport Travel Bank Initiative Reaches $6.3M
VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport’s Travel Bank – Air Service Initiative has reached $6.3 million in nonbinding pledges and other forms of interest from more than 230 businesses, organizations and individuals -- one day ahead of the Jan. 15 extended deadline for the drive.
The campaign sought nonbinding commitments of $3 million to $5 million through the campaign, which began in September, to demonstrate interest in reestablishing daily scheduled service to the airport. The airport worked with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, YNGAir Partners, the community group formed to support the airport, and other civic groups on the campaign.
“The purpose of the travel bank is to quantify travel demand for the airline that is otherwise unquantifiable,” said Dan Dickten, director of aviation at the regional airport. “The travel bank is simply a list of non-binding pledges made by local businesses, organizations, large employers, and even individuals who travel frequently, that state what each entity will spend annually on new air service should it be initiated from the local airport. The great response received by local businesses and other frequent travelers shows the airlines that the local community is very supportive of using the local airport for daily scheduled airline service.”
The initiative received $5.3 million in non-binding pledges and approximately $1 million from others whose companies don’t permit pledging but said they would use daily service at the airport.
“This travel bank is proof positive that the community wants better air access to the world via the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport,” said Tom Reich of AvPorts, the airport’s air service development consultant. “There is a clear need for daily air service in the Mahoning Valley now more than ever. Wiith the overwhelming community support for this travel bank, it brings us one step closer to making daily air service a reality."
“This has been a team effort through and through. The business community has once again shown their support for the Valley by indicating they would use daily service at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport,” said Eric Planey, vice president for international business attraction with the regional chamber. He also expressed appreciation to the chambers of commerce in Salem, Mercer and Lawrence counties and the Ashtabula Growth Partnership.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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