Merced airport OK for another year
The Merced Airport has been spared for one year from being removed from the Essential Air Service program, which would have been a major blow to area business people, according to city leaders.
The federal Department of Transportation announced in August that the Merced Municipal Airport would lose its status with the program, which allows it to provide flights in and out of Merced that connect with larger airports.
The Merced airport was not meeting the program’s standard to average at least 10 plane passengers per day.
Regional and local elected officials wrote letters of support to the Department of Transportation to get the one-year waiver.
“After several months of hard work, I am thrilled that Essential Air Service will continue at the Merced (Municipal) Airport,” said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, in a release Sept. 26. “Today’s decision will ensure the airport will continue to be an important economic engine for the region.”
Both Costa and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., wrote letters of support, according to Merced City Manager John Bramble. “We really appreciate the assistance we got from the congressman and senator’s offices,” he said.
Giving a company official the option to fly into town can be appealing, he said, compared to a long commute from Sacramento, San Jose or Fresno. Freeway traffic is also subject to congestion. He also said the airport is used by UC Merced staff and faculty.
From 2002 through 2008, Merced averaged 24 passengers, and 11 passengers in 2012. Bramble said the flight carrier, Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines, had to manage problems with finding a regular gate at its Los Angeles International Airport connection throughout 2013. That affected the daily average in Merced.
The Department of Transportation has the authority to give waivers if the dip in plane passengers is expected to be temporary.
The city can now request proposals from carriers to provide flights through September of next year. The Merced City Council gets the final say on what company gets the contract.
Councilman Josh Pedrozo said the airport is an important part of Merced’s economy. It is one more way to get corporate leaders to take a look at Merced when scouting land and locations for their company’s growth.
“It just provides us with another economic tool,” he said. “We’re able to attract people that want to fly in real quick, check something out (and) be able to go back and explain what’s going on.”
The Essential Air Service program was established to ensure smaller communities received adequate and affordable air transportation options following the airline deregulation of the 1970s.
This story was originally published October 5, 2014 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Merced airport OK for another year."