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Discussions Begin with New Carrier for Regional Airport
By Dan O'BrienVIENNA, Ohio -- The board that runs the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has approved additional funds for the operation and promotion of another potential passenger service.The Western Reserve Port Authority Wednesday approved $150,000 that would be used as a guarantee to help an unidentified air carrier base flights from the airport."I'd rather not elaborate since we're in discussions right now," said Steve Bowser, airport interim director of aviation. Bowser would only confirm the port authority is in communications with an entity that could bring a "recognizable carrier" to Youngstown-Warren and that more information would be forthcoming within 30 days.Bowser said the airport's ultimate goal is to return passenger service through a carrier that is within the network of the National Air Transportation System. Such a carrier could allow for multiple destinations from Youngstown. "This may be the conduit to do so," he said.The port authority approved the funds during a special meeting Wednesday morning. Bowser said the guarantee would help with the carrier's initial operations and promotion -- the same strategy used to attract Vacation Express earlier this year.To the best of his knowledge, Bowser said, the carrier approached the airport after evaluating the market in the wake of Vacation Express' launch. In February, the port authority announced it had reached an agreement with Vacation Express to begin regularly scheduled passenger service to Orlando, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The airport had been without regular service since October 2002 when Northwest Airlines pulled out of Youngstown-Warren. The money for the potential second carrier will come from funds Mahoning and Trumbull counties appropriated for the airport. Trumbull County contributes roughly $400,000 a year to airport operations, Mahoning County about $200,000. Both counties use a portion of the bed tax levied on hotels and motels to subsidize the facility.Still, even with that money in hand, allocating another $150,000 is "going to be tough," Bowser added.To lure Vacation Express to the airport, the port authority approved a guarantee of up to $300,000 to defray the carrier's start-up costs, including advertising. Thus far, Bowser estimates the airport has spent about $200,000 to help the airline. However, he noted that additional revenues from sources such as parking -- which could bring in between $60,000 to $100,000 a year to the airport as a result of flight activity -- offset port authority expenditures.It's not unusual for major airlines, Bowser elaborated, to request subsidies of up to $5 million from commercial hubs.Vacation Express began service April 1 and boasted a 95% occupancy rate for the first month because of the bargain ticket fares it offered as part of its promotional efforts. In May, about 70% of the flights were filled to Orlando and Myrtle Beach, Bowser reported.Occupancy rates in June, he continued, were similar. "Business hasn't been bad. It wasn't as brisk in May and June but July looks very good," he said.Officials from the city of Sanford, Fla., were scheduled to meet yesterday with port authority officials and Mahoning Valley officeholders for a "dialog on how to work together to best take advantage of the passenger flight link between northeast Ohio and central Florida. The Vacation Express flights from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport terminate at the Orlando Sanford International Airport. Flights to Mrytle Beach are expected to end after Labor Day, according to today's Tribune Chronicle. The flights would resume at the start of the vacation season, the newspaper reported.Contact Dan O'Brien at [email protected]"