|
Trouble ahead for Gogebic-Iron County Airport
Posted: 03.11.2011 at 6:06 PM
|
GOGEBIC COUNTY -- With a proposed Senate bill threatening to make cuts to Essential Air Service, the Gogebic-Iron County Airport fears they may soon be facing some serious problems.
Essential Air Service subsidizes commercial airlines to fly to rural airports like the Gogebic-Iron facility.
If passed, the bill would limit the service to airports having at least ten passengers departing each day. The Gogebic-Iron County Airport currently doesn't fit that category.
"Our community will loose our carrier service," said Airport Manager Duane Duray. "It will have a huge effect on the overall operation on the airport; with an airline providing service, we've become a part 139 air carrier airport which opens the door for a lot of federal funding."
The airport is hoping the amendment fails so they can continue commercial flights.
The Gogebic-Iron County Airport gets a new air carrier in Frontier Airlines in April. They'll be serving the airport with 37 passenger jetliner service.