March 5,2016-
The Visalia City Council will likely vote to end years of taking a federal subsidy to lure passenger air service to town at their March 7 meeting. “We could see about $3.7 million in one-time federal funds that could be put to use improving our airport” if the city ends annual passenger service subsidy says council member Greg Collins. The federal Essential Air Service program has been around since 1978,with the goal to promote air service to smaller communities. But EAS service here with multiple carriers has been less than successful.”We’ve been down this path for years and it seems we have a chance to move in a different direction.”
Visalia City Manager Mike Olmos confirms the staff is recommending an end to the subsidy program.”It’s been a real struggle” he adds. Olmos says the city worries that the Department of Transportation could say the city is not meeting a $200 per passenger subsidy cap and “then we would get nothing.” The new agreement with DOT would call for a 10 year “hiatus” of the EAS subsidy.
Air passenger service to Visalia began in 1946 when United flew DC-6 planes followed in the 1970s by 737 jets before the company halted all service here in 1980. It’s been down hill since.
Earlier this year a pilot shortage forced SeaPort Airlines to suddenly end service to Visalia even though they had an Essential Air Service contract and had been performing well. In recent weeks several other airlines offered to pick up the contract offering flights to LAX. Instead the council may be disposed to take the money offered to end the subsidy program and to use that money to improve commercial operations including cargo service out of Visalia. As far as passenger service the idea is to promote a shuttle service to Fresno/Yosemite airport.
Air passenger service to Visalia began in 1946 when United flew DC-6 planes followed in the 1970s by 737 jets before the company halted all service here in 1980. It’s been down hill since.