Minutes Airport Update 4 12 05
Airport Update to Dubuque City Council
April 12, 2005
Dear Mayor Duggan and Council Members,
Please accept this tardy update on airport matters. We have been focused through the past
several months on legislative initiatives. "Tis the season" for this activity, as you well know.
We sincerely appreciate your attention to Dubuque Regional Airport matters as we fight to
maintain and grow our services and opportunities. American Eagle is pleased with the 10% -
20% increase in emplanements as a result of the addition of a fourth weekday flight. You may
recall this additional flight was inaugurated this past fall. Typically fall is a difficult time to launch
an additional flight. Statistics indicate an annual decline in emplanements nationwide at this
time. The fourth AE flight continues to produce revenue and should become more lucrative as
the busier season ensues.
We have been notified of additional weekend flight beginning April 16th. This will increase the
number of incoming flights on Saturday to four and departing flights on Sunday to four. We are
proud of this unrequested addition and understand we are aiding O'Hare International by
providing overnight parking for this flight. The good news is that more fuel will be sold to AE with
each added flight.
We are conducting additional leakage studies with our consultant to more accurately monitor our
customers' behavior in the current market. We are always open to opportunities to expand air
service to other carriers and additional hubs. Caution is our guide as we jostle for more service in
a very unstable market for carriers - all struggling at or near bankruptcy. Increased fuel costs will
continue to hamper efforts to achieve economic stability for all major air carriers in the current
market.
Here are some notes on recent activities:
Wilson Bros Leasing split ownership over the last few months. National Car rental has closed.
Staff will prepare and send out a RFP for a new rental car company and bring to the new
agreement by the May Commission meeting.
Air bridge completion date is now set for the end of April.
Dubuque Regional Airport will be represented at the City Expo. Thanks for the opportunity.
Airport Manager Perry continues to work with the state legislature on air service initiative funding
and Airport Development Zone legislation. We congratulate Andrew Perry for his leadership of
this initiative.
Staff and commission members continue to work with members of Congress on terminal funding.
The Commission would like to extend our thanks to Council members who traveled to DC to
advocate for City transportation priorities including the Dubuque Regional Airport.
Our Congressional delegation announced the $73,000 award for a master drainage study to
address water runoff on airport property. This is a required activity as plans continue for terminal
construction.
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The airport received an Air Service Initiative grant from the State Office of Aviation for $15,000 to
provide WYFllnternet service for the business travelers and to add LCD computer screens for
welcome signs for the terminal building. LDC screens will announce pertinent information for our
travelers and guests.
We received a letter from the FAA concerning additional two hours for the control tower. They
denied our request due to lack of funding at this time. This continues to be a priority for the
airport.
Construction on the America's hangar (this is an expansion of the UD hangar - adding 3000
square feet to accommodate additional UD aircraft and solving water runoff issues) is underway
with contract awarded to Maryville Construction.
UD's program has grown significantly this year. The University added three new aircraft and has
plans to add two more this fall. We congratulate them on this success.
Airport Manager Perry and Gordy Vetsch attended the National Air Transport Association town
hall meeting in Des Moines this past month and met Congressman Leonard Boswell to push
support for AlP funding and other pertinent legislation.
Visits were made to the state capital to make contact with area legislators on behalf of airport
priorities.
New land use zoning for the entire airport was completed April 11th at the Supervisor's meeting.
Portions of the airport land are now zoned commercial, airport ag, and/or airport operations area.
This step was taken to more appropriately reflect the activity that occurs at the airport and allows
the Commission, Manager and staff to plan and develop in a more efficient manner without
returning regularly to the County Zoning Commission.
There is growing interest in the airport commercial development park. The Airport Commission
and Airport Manager Perry hope to capitalize on this interest and create additional revenue
streams at the airport to decrease reliance on tax dollars as we grow into the future.
Respectfully submitted
Teri Goodmann, Chair
Dubuque Regional Airport Commission