Airport officials meet with senator
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
SEN. OLYMPIA SNOWE listens as Scott Wardwell, airport director, Northern Maine Regional Airport, discusses air service needs at the Presque Isle facility. Snowe met with airport officials and passengers during a Jan. 20 visit.
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — Sen. Olympia Snowe, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, met with officials from the Northern Maine Regional Airport on Jan. 20, discussing the process for selecting a new carrier.
The airport has been in the market for a new airline, following a decision by Colgan Air, Inc. — which operates as US Airways Express — to file a notice of intent to terminate its service to Presque Isle late last year. On Nov. 22, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would prohibit Colgan from terminating its subsidized service until a replacement was found. The DOT requested proposals from airlines interested in providing a replacement Essential Air Service (EAS), and earlier this month three carriers — Air Choice One, Peninsula Airways and Sovereign Air — formally applied to continue the service.
Snowe has also secured an acknowledgement from DOT Secretary Ray LaHood that smaller, eight- or nine-seat aircraft would be inadequate for Aroostook County, ensuring that larger-sized aircraft will continue to fly to Presque Isle (PQI). Snowe had called on LaHood to enforce a 15-seat minimum for any carrier that serves the PQI to Boston route in a Nov. 29, 2011 letter.
Snowe met with officials from PenAir earlier this year but has not had the opportunity to meet with officials with the other two airlines. Meeting with Snowe last week at the airport were: Scott Wardwell, NMRA manager; Larry Clark, executive director, Presque Isle Industrial Council; Nate Grass, chairman, Airport Advisory Board; and Emily Smith, chair of Presque Isle City Council.
Snowe talked about the importance of continuing EAS to rural airports, such as Presque Isle’s.
“I was an early champion of the EAS program. It provides fairness and equity. Government has to uphold promises of deregulation, to provide the quality of services to areas like the Presque Isle region,” said Snowe, stressing it is “only fair to have service for all.”
“I regret those in Congress who don’t appreciate the program. Rural areas, the economy and the nation depend on EAS. Rural areas benefit greatly from it,” she said.
Snowe said Aroostook County and Presque Isle are prime examples of why the EAS program is crucial.
“We’ve made this region an example. I credit Scott for crafting a survey and understanding the market and Emily for supporting the survey, which now provides carriers with data,” said Snowe. “It’s critically important to support everything we can. It’s also a matter of getting the right carrier and the right hub.”
Wardwell said a big part of the problem has been the fact rural areas “don’t have enough volume” to attract larger airlines.
“We have 10,000-20,000 people who use the airport regularly. With the right pricing, connected to the right terminal and hubs, we can build on that,” said Wardwell.
“There are ways to address the issues here and support these ideas,” said Snowe. “We have a lot of businesses served by the Presque Isle airport — retail, agricultural.”
Snowe said she would be taking information from the meeting back to Washington and will continue to “champion EAS for rural communities.”
Prior to leaving the airport, Snowe visited with several passengers arriving and departing from NMRA.
Kristina Rogers and Palmeda Taylor, both from Nashville, Tenn., were two passengers waiting to catch a flight home.
“I travel for work. This is my second time to the area,” said Rogers.
“We’re both consultants. This is actually my 12th flight to Presque Isle,” said Taylor. “I’m satisfied with the air service here. It’s always been friendly.”
Wardwell also appeared before City Council on Jan. 23, providing an update of the bidding process for an EAS carrier.
Of the three bidders, Wardwell indicated PenAir had “met all EAS requirements.”
“The PenAir proposal has real possibilities but depends on the fare they give us and what terminal they get into in Boston Logan,” said Wardwell. “We’re working with the PenAir proposal, hoping at the next Council meeting to have more clarification and more good news that we’ve made this fare more competitive.”
City Manager Jim Bennett told councilors they’d have recommendations by their February meeting, “with comments to consider, prior to the Feb. 7 deadline.”
