HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-09 Airport Committee Minutes •
AIRPORT CONIMITTEE MEETING
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM—THIlZD FLOOR
TUESDAY,MAY 9, 2000
Present: Gerald Palmer, Chair
Dan Tremble,Member
7oseph Baldacci, Council Member
7ohn Rohman, Member
Bob Ziegelaar, Airport Director
Jeff Russell, Apt. Marketing. Mgr.
Ed Barrett, City Mgr.
The meeting was convened at 5 PM. Items were taken up as per published agenda.
1) Gate 1 Alterations. The Airport Director proposed that the previously discussed
alterations be accomplished by Duraform Inc.,the low proposer. The Committee
voted unanimously to approve the same.
� 2) TelfordNolvo Facility. The Airport Director and City Engineer recommended
approval of a change order of approximately $200,000 for the purpose of finishing the
interior office areas and storage spaces above. The additional outlays are to be repaid
through increased lease payments by Telford Aviation. The Airport Director
explained that the earlier estimate had been in the $235,000 range but that subsequent
negotiations had resulted in the lower amount. The Committee voted to accept the
recommendation.
3) Business Consortium. The Airport Director and the Marketing Manager provided
the Committee with an overview of the ongoing discussions with the local Business
Consortium dealing with air service issues. State officials also attended the most
recent meeting. The Airport suggested to the State that a policy be developed
whereby State employees must use Maine airports for all state travel, unless there are
clear reasons for not doing so. In other states the state government and university
systems have teamed up to generate buying volumes sufficient to warrant negotiated
rates.
4) Advertising Program. The Marketing Director briefed the Committee on the status of
the program, indicating that the advertising firm is close to delivering the initial
footage for review.
5) Business Report. Mr. Ziegelaar reported further details regarding the renewed
Business Express service to LaGuardia, indicating his expectation that the flight will
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continue through the Winter season. He further reported that the new USAirways
services to Laguardia and Philadelphia are doing very well with bookings.
JeffRussell reported that a new alliance between Business Express and Midway
Airlines will greatly improve connections with Midwestern destinations. There was
additional discussion about the PanAm flights to Orlando and Pittsburgh. Mr.
Ziegelaar expressed some concern about the relatively low passenger loads. The
Airport has taken the initiative in an attempt to boost patronage by linking PanAm
with a Tour Package provider who will bundle hotel accommodations and car rentals
with the air travel. Such packages will be made available into Maine as well as into
Orlando and Pittsburgh. In addition the Airport will spend at least $250,000 in TV
and print media ads supporting the PanAm product in these markets.
7effRussell further reported that Atlantic Coast Airlines continues to look good for a
Bangor start-up in February of 2001. The service would be into Wash./Dulles airport,
where passengers could either head into Washington or continue their flight within
the United Airlines systems.
6) The balance of the meeting was spent in executive session for the purposes of dealing
with land acquisition matters.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:30 PM.
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