Things are looking up at the regional airport

HOW WE SEE IT

Three years ago, we took the Federal Aviation Administration to task for twice turning down the Mahoning Valley for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program. What got us hot under the collar was the FAA's refusal to be swayed by a letter from Delta Airlines that held out the promise of commercial service at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. The Valley had been without regularly scheduled commercial flights since September 2002 when Northwest Airlines discontinued service to Detroit.

Delta had endorsed the Western Reserve Port Authority's bid in 2002 for a $1 million grant under the pilot program — but to no avail. No public explanation was given by the FAA for the airport not making the cut. A total of $20 million was handed out that year, including $950,000 to the Akron-Canton Regional Airport.

We bring up that situation as a way of putting the federal government on notice that Valley residents will be paying close attention to what it does for the 2007-08 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. There are strong indications that the Youngstown-Warren airport will not only qualify for the $1 million grant, but will receive some discretionary money to help pay for the perimeter fence that is being installed. About 20,000 feet of fencing needs to be completed this year at a cost of about $2 million.

Steve Bowser, director of aviation, is optimistic that money from Washington will be forthcoming. Bowser says that the number of passengers who flew out of the Youngstown-Warren airport in 2006 and his conversations with FAA officials bode well for the region.

Federal standard

The passenger count is key to securing the federal grant, and Bowser is certain that in 2006, the airport exceeded the 10,000-passenger standard set by the agency for a small community airport to qualify for a $1 million grant.

Indeed, the number could well be above 12,000, thanks largely to Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, which began regularly scheduled flights last year between Youngstown and Sanford, Fla. In May, Allegiant increased the flights to twice a week.

Add to that passenger load the number of Valley residents utilizing charter flights to Atlantic City and what you have is an airport that is finally showing signs of sustained life.

Allegiant Air has undoubtedly struck a positive note with area residents, as evidenced by a letter to the editor published in Sunday's Vindicator. It was signed by two prominent businessmen, Ray Travaglini, chairman of Travaglini Enterprises Inc. of Warren, and Gary Meszaros, co-founder/COO of Quaker Steak & Lube of Sharon.

In their letter, Travaglini and Meszaros not only sang the praises of the service provided by Allegiant and the convenience and easy of flying out of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, but they also suggested that with continued support, the airline may consider extending service in Florida and offering flights to Las Vegas.

The keywords are "continued support," the lifeblood of any airport. Without passengers there can be no regularly scheduled flights and without flights, an airport founders, as this region well knows.

With the FAA now on board, and with Allegiant Air obviously pleased at the reception it has received from the region, we are optimistic — albeit cautiously, given the uncertainty of the airline industry — about the future of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.