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The possibility of establishing a regional airport in Garden City gained momentum this week, when a state-supported program earmarked $250,000 for the concept.
But the grant hinges on whether Dodge City and Garden City officials team up on efforts to attract commercial jet service to Garden.
Dodge and Garden officials have not made that decision yet but are gathering more information. Their recommendation was due Friday, but they are seeking an extension.
The Wichita-based Regional Economic Area Partnership announced Monday that it had awarded $250,000 to the Garden City Regional Airport. The money is intended to help Garden City offer commercial air service to Dallas.
Funding comes from the state-supported Kansas Affordable Airfares Program, which provides more flight options and promotes competition among airlines. The goal is to make airfares more affordable.
Four airlines — Great Lakes, Air Choice One, SkyWest and American Eagle — are competing for the right to provide regional air service in southwest Kansas. Garden City officials have endorsed American Eagle's bid, which would offer flights from Garden to Dallas.
But American Eagle's bid would cost approximately $900,000 more than the other bids, prompting Garden officials to seek an additional local subsidy or fare assurance.
Garden has asked Dodge to consider giving up part of its subsidy from the federal Essential Air Service program, which supports commercial air service in small, rural communities. Under this proposal, the two cities would pool resources to establish a regional airport in Garden.
"We realize the significance of what we are asking and the positive impact commercial air service has had on both our communities over the last three decades," Garden City officials wrote in a July 5 letter to the Dodge City Commission. "As costs for airlines have continued to increase and the program's budget continues to decrease, our staffs and elected officials have recognized and informally discussed the inevitability of fewer airports in southwest Kansas with commercial air service. In this context, we offer an invitation to combine resources, mutually control the creation of 'regional service,' and secure a long-term solution for our communities."
Working together
Dodge and Garden officials have considered establishing a regional airport before, but those discussions became more urgent recently because Congress may decide to eliminate the Essential Air Service program, Dodge City Manager Ken Strobel said Tuesday.
"The EAS program has come under attack in the past, but never really did we feel that the program was in jeopardy," he said. "This year, however, there's more concern that the program may be phased out or funding cut substantially. And so the idea of some type consolidation and regionalization is a little more intense right now than what it has been over the previous years."
Those discussions set the stage for Garden City's proposal, which calls for Dodge to forgo about $1 million in federal funding to help Garden attract regional jet service. Under this proposal, the Dodge City airport would remain open but discontinue commercial flights.
But Dodge may apply to participate in the federal Alternative Air Service Pilot Program, Strobel said. Under this scenario, Dodge would give up its right to subsidized air service, and part of its subsidy would be used to support American Eagle's commercial air service. The remaining money could be used to finance related services, such as a shuttle from Dodge to the Garden City airport.
Dodge would remain eligible for EAS funding, which would allow the city to apply for a new subsidy if American Eagle ever pulled out of Garden City.
Participating in the Alternative Air Service Pilot Program would allow Dodge and Garden to see if a regional airport in Garden City could succeed, Strobel said.
"We're still a part of the program," he said. "They're just allowing us to spend the subsidy — what would otherwise go to the air carrier — in a different manner."
The possibility of establishing a regional airport in Garden City gained momentum this week, when a state-supported program earmarked $250,000 for the concept.
But the grant hinges on whether Dodge City and Garden City officials team up on efforts to attract commercial jet service to Garden.
Dodge and Garden officials have not made that decision yet but are gathering more information. Their recommendation was due Friday, but they are seeking an extension.
The Wichita-based Regional Economic Area Partnership announced Monday that it had awarded $250,000 to the Garden City Regional Airport. The money is intended to help Garden City offer commercial air service to Dallas.
Funding comes from the state-supported Kansas Affordable Airfares Program, which provides more flight options and promotes competition among airlines. The goal is to make airfares more affordable.
Four airlines — Great Lakes, Air Choice One, SkyWest and American Eagle — are competing for the right to provide regional air service in southwest Kansas. Garden City officials have endorsed American Eagle's bid, which would offer flights from Garden to Dallas.
But American Eagle's bid would cost approximately $900,000 more than the other bids, prompting Garden officials to seek an additional local subsidy or fare assurance.
Garden has asked Dodge to consider giving up part of its subsidy from the federal Essential Air Service program, which supports commercial air service in small, rural communities. Under this proposal, the two cities would pool resources to establish a regional airport in Garden.
"We realize the significance of what we are asking and the positive impact commercial air service has had on both our communities over the last three decades," Garden City officials wrote in a July 5 letter to the Dodge City Commission. "As costs for airlines have continued to increase and the program's budget continues to decrease, our staffs and elected officials have recognized and informally discussed the inevitability of fewer airports in southwest Kansas with commercial air service. In this context, we offer an invitation to combine resources, mutually control the creation of 'regional service,' and secure a long-term solution for our communities."
Working together
Dodge and Garden officials have considered establishing a regional airport before, but those discussions became more urgent recently because Congress may decide to eliminate the Essential Air Service program, Dodge City Manager Ken Strobel said Tuesday.
"The EAS program has come under attack in the past, but never really did we feel that the program was in jeopardy," he said. "This year, however, there's more concern that the program may be phased out or funding cut substantially. And so the idea of some type consolidation and regionalization is a little more intense right now than what it has been over the previous years."
Those discussions set the stage for Garden City's proposal, which calls for Dodge to forgo about $1 million in federal funding to help Garden attract regional jet service. Under this proposal, the Dodge City airport would remain open but discontinue commercial flights.
But Dodge may apply to participate in the federal Alternative Air Service Pilot Program, Strobel said. Under this scenario, Dodge would give up its right to subsidized air service, and part of its subsidy would be used to support American Eagle's commercial air service. The remaining money could be used to finance related services, such as a shuttle from Dodge to the Garden City airport.
Dodge would remain eligible for EAS funding, which would allow the city to apply for a new subsidy if American Eagle ever pulled out of Garden City.
Participating in the Alternative Air Service Pilot Program would allow Dodge and Garden to see if a regional airport in Garden City could succeed, Strobel said.
"We're still a part of the program," he said. "They're just allowing us to spend the subsidy — what would otherwise go to the air carrier — in a different manner."
