HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-29 Airport Committee Minutes i
AiRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM,THIRD FLOOR
WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 29, 1999—4 PM
Present: Gerry Palmer, Chair
John Rohman
Michael Aube,Mayor
Robert Farrar �
Jeff Russell
Bob Ziegelaar
D.Fichtner,Media
Meeting was convened at 4:00 PM. Items were taken up as per published agenda.
#1. Assumption ofthe USAirways lease by Commutair. The Airport Director requested approval
for the lease assumption. The Committee approved the same unanimously without debate.
#2. Discussion of Task Force Report. Mayor Aube suggested that the introduction be slightly
modif'ied and stress the importance and value of the Airport. The catchment area should be
highlighted as per the Stafford report. BIA should be described as one of two major
transporta.tion hubs for Maine,tying in the E/W highway, Searsport and Eastport. On page 5 of
• the report the overall collaborative effort with the Maine Economic Developtnent Dept. should be
further detailed. DECD should be asked to enhance the funding mix,with BIA as the focal point
of the overall regional effort. Mr.Ziegelaar said that he would discuss these points with the
Commissioner(Melrose)to see if the changes would be acceptable,adding that he did not
anticipate any problem with that request. Councilor Rohman stressed the importance of detailing
the Canadian areas as being part of the larger Bangor market. In addition he staxed that the
importance of Mack Point should not be underestimated and should be highlighted in BIA's
materials.
#3. Airport Business Report. Mr.Ziegelaar presented the Committee with several draft outlines
for upcoming marketing efforts. The first such outline dealt with Airtran,a low cost airline based
in Atlanta and a competitor with Southwest Airlines. The focus would be the Bangor-Atlanta
route,with onward connections throughout the southeast. Mr.Russell highlighted a number of
aspects within the report dealing with the projected economic growth aspects for Maine and the
Bangor region. He further stated that the current leakage from the Bangor market was being
specifically detailed in the proposal to increase the market's appeal because current boarding
numbers do not adequately describe the market potential. Russell also explained how the
projected fares would rate to the financial performance by the proposed Bangor operation.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 PM.
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