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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-02 Airport Committee Minutes a r . Meeting Agenda City of Bangor Airport Committee Meeting City Council Chambers 3`d Floou� Navember 2, 2011 4:Q0 The following City Councilcrrs were icr attendance: Gerry Palmer; Nelson Durgin; Richard Branson; and Pat Bianchette. The follawing City staff were also in attendance, Airport Director, Rebecca Hupp and Risteem Bahr. Councilor Palmer opened the meeting. Agenda: 1. Industry Update/C/verrriew a. Passenger Statistics for September-Airport Marketing Director, Risteen Bahr indicated the Airpart had a 17.3% increase in September compared ta September 201, and had a 10.6% increase year tp date campared ta last year. This is abave the industry average. b. Air service developments-Airport Director Hupp, indieated that the Airpart is cantinuing ta watch the prapased slot swap between U.S. Airways and Delta for JFK and DG This transitian may be done by L7ecember and we are laoking at this opportunity. Allegiant Air will start the new service ta Fart Lauderdale on Navember 17th. We wull be hcalding an �naugural flight euent far this which will be held at 11:00 AM. WVe will alsa be doing a drawing for a round trip air ticket an Allegiant and a Royal Caribbean Cruise for two plus a two night stay at the 5heratan Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel. 7'he Airport is continuing ta wark on abtaining a waiver for the Cuba Embau-go sa that we can attract a transit charter pragram,The Airpart also continues to wark an the �ederal Grant f�r Small Community Air Service Development. QuestionsJCamments Cauncilar Durgin asked about the Jet Blue incident when the Passengers were left on the plane for seven haurs. He asked what steps Bangar International Airport had in case there was a pawer autage,what would �angar International Airport do. Hupp respanded that we da have options in case of a pawer outage and that passengers will not be kept an the plar�e. 5pecifically, the Airperrt has generator power to operate the terminal build�ng including the jet-bridges.The Airpart a�lso has multiple sets c�f air stairs that can be used ta deplane passengers remately. 2. Business Developrnent Activities a. Rautes Canference-Risteen Bahr discussed the World Route !�evelopment Forum th�at she and Tony Caruso attended. This farum is a meeting af the aviation industryr which includes airlines, airparts,tourism autharities, tour operators, and cargo operators. The driving farce far the meeting is the one-on-ao�e meetings that are held between patential partners and existing partners. This was BGR's first year to attend. We did have a small baoth and participated in 10 formal meetings and twa briefings. In several of aur meetings with bath domestic carriers as well as international charter and carga carriers, we learned infarmatian fram exusting and potential partners that we might nat have learned had we nat been in att�ndance. Our meetings with carga carriers were all excellent. These carriers use B�R primarily as a technical s�ap. Overall, tl�is is a worthwhile meeting and we should continue participating. It is anather chance tc� meet with muGtiple carriers in ane place far ane-on-ane meetings and' networking. There were abaut 3000 people in attendance. Qu�stions/Camments Councilc�r Durgin ask�d if urre can bring in large aircraft ta BGR with heavy equipment like fc�r the Waterfrant Cancerts. Bahr responded yes and that she will faak into this further. b. National Business Aviation Association-Airport Directar Hupp indicated that this was held in October and the canference drew 1,106 Exhibitors, a 2 percent increase over- last year's �xhibitar count of 1,q86. The number of attendees was alsa up 7%from last year with 26,077 in attendance. We c�,ntinue to hear fr�orn r,ur custarne�rs that they are extremely pleased with BGR's servic�es and value, and do not "shop around", a true testament of canfid�n�� in aur service. We were able to meet with many af key custorners including Warid Fuel Services ta discuss their new elite FBO netwcrrk currently in develapment. UVAIR presented Bangar with an award as ane of their Tap Suppliers. 3. Autharizatian to Amnend Fixed Base Operating Fuel Supply Agreement Airpart Director Hupp discussed the cantract with Western Petroleum,the distributer for ExxonMobil as the Airport"s FBO Supplier. BGR retained the ExxanMobii premiere brand, Avitat, on the retail side when we made the fuel transition two years ago. The Western Petroleum cantact was signed on July 31, 2009 with an initial 1 year term with twa additional 1 year extensians. Recently, ExxonMabil notified Western Petroleum and its FBOs that it intends to exifi the retail aviation fu�l business at the end af November. Under the existing contract with Western Petraleum,they have the authc�rity�a substitute fuel brands. �"he Airport is requesting authorizatian to amend the existing agreernent to refle��ct the changes necessitated by ExxanMabil's exit from�the market place. This will all�rw the Airpart ta rnair�tain tfae existing credit card processing and support functions without extending the term of the agreement. The final agreem�nt willl be in a form reviewed and appraved by the City Solicitor. Questians/Camments Cauncilar Blanchette asked are other Airparts going through the sam� issues. Hupp responded that Pcrrtland made the decision tp transitian ta a new fuel brand and ather places are also rnaving ahead. Blanehette alsa indicated that perhaps the Airport should issue and RFP and th�Council needs to discuss this. Councilor Durgin res�anded that the proposal ta amer�d the contract makes sense and we can ga aut far the RFP pria�r to the expirations of the current contract. H�pp indicate� that we have the open access fuel madel; a transition we made 3 years ago. We h�v� a contract with Irving Fuel for the Airport"s fuel supply. In the coming manths we will have a workshop on the FBO services with the Council/Committee araund January. Councilor Palmer asked if the Avitat brand gane and Hupp responded yes. Bronsan approved and Durgin seca�nded. 4, Review of Praposed Five Year Capital Improvement Program Project. Airport Director, Hupp reviewed the upcaming 5 year projects ffor FAA. Please see the attached memo for the details. Questions/Cam ments Councilar Blanche�te asked about the bird flight pattern. Councilar Brorrson asked if the necessary funding vvauld be there if additional funds are being carried fc�rward. Hupp responded that we receive roughly 2 milli�rn dcrllars per year in AIP funding. Cauncilar Durgin added that i�t is a good progressive plan, 5. Troap Greeter Pavilion and Ground Breaking Ceremany Airpart Directar Nupp irndicated that the Airport has propc�sed to dcr a permanent pavilian for the troaps.Approximately 18months ago the Airpart discussed that once we reached the millionth service mernber caming through Bangar, �nre would construct a pavilion in recognition of the Troop Greeters for all af their wark greeting the military. We are planning a ground breaking ceremony for Navember 10,2011. Questions/Comments Cauncilor Brcanson-where is the cost or funds caming from. Hupp responded that it is caming aut 4f the Airport funds and anticipates that it won't b�e any more than $5,00�7, We are alsa wcrrking an donatians, cantributions in exchange for recagnitior�. Cauncilor Palmer asked where this will be lacated. Hupp responded betuveen the hotel and �he car rental lot, and it is an all weather pavilion, but will nat be heated. Meeting adjourned.