Dodge City votes to continue flights to Denver

DODGE CITY — Dodge City officials will ask the federal government to continue subsidizing flights from Dodge to Denver.

The Dodge City Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to seek support for commercial air service to Denver under the Essential Air Service program. Commissioners Michael Weece, Monte Broeckelman and Jim Sherer voted in favor of the proposal, and Commissioners Rick Sowers and Kent Smoll voted against it.

The commission's recommendation will go to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will make the final decision.

Keeping flights

Southwest Kansas could lose commercial air service if the federal government cuts funding for the Essential Air Service program, which supports commercial flights in small, rural communities.

As a possible solution, Garden City officials have asked Dodge to support a bid from American Eagle, which has offered to provide flights from Garden to Dallas. But American Eagle's bid would cost about $900,000 more than bids from other airlines, prompting Garden City officials to seek financial assistance from Dodge.

Garden City suggested that Dodge City could forgo about $1 million in federal funding to help establish a regional airport in Garden. Under this scenario, Dodge City Regional Airport would have remained open but discontinued commercial fights.

But Dodge City Manager Ken Strobel gave the commission two different options to consider Tuesday:

• Continue the city's current arrangement with Great Lakes, in which the airline provides four daily round-trip flights to Denver.

• Ask Great Lakes to provide two daily flights from Dodge to Denver, and ask American Eagle to offer two flights from Garden City to Dallas.

If the commission had chosen the second option, the city would have applied to participate in the federal Alternative Air Service Pilot Program. Under that scenario, the city would have given up its right to subsidized air service and used part of the subsidy to support American Eagle's service.

The city would then use its remaining subsidy to finance related services, such as a shuttle from Dodge to the Garden City airport.

Strobel said the second option would essentially help the Dodge airport regain its dual-hub status, which was lost when Great Lakes stopped offering flights from Dodge to Kansas City.

"I can't give you guarantees on this, but I think at this point, it is well worth taking a very, very serious look at the alternative program," he said. "I think it serves the people of Dodge City better. I think it provides an opportunity for us that we certainly haven't had up to this point. And it's, frankly, my recommendation to go that direction."

Sherer wondered if Great Lakes could offer three daily flights to Denver.

"How much would that cost?" he said.

Strobel said he could not give a definite answer, but he estimated that adding an extra flight would cost about $800,000.
 

Source:  http://www.dodgeglobe.com