Naples Municipal Airport (KAPF) waiting for word from Transportation Security Administration on when to launch commerical flights

Commercial flights could be delayed until as late as January as the Naples Municipal Airport waits to hear from the Transportation Security Administration about when the federal agency can begin servicing the Naples terminal. Elite Airways, the airline approved for commercial flights, will hold off on selling tickets until the TSA sets up, Ted Soliday, the airport executive director, said Thursday.

The go-ahead from the TSA could come as late as mid-December. Soliday said the TSA gives a 60-day installation deadline after commercial service is approved. Naples' contract with Elite was signed on Oct. 15.

"We don't have a nod," Soliday said. He said the TSA was in town Thursday.

Meanwhile, the airport since late October has been refurbishing its old commercial terminal to get ready for the new flights. The terminal, which historically was used for commercial flights until Delta Air Lines left the city in 2007, is getting fresh paint on the walls and a new carpet.

In the middle of the terminal's main hallway, the glass cases of military memorabilia are being moved to a backroom that used to be a restaurant. Workers are putting in new vending machines and a spot to serve coffee. And the blue sign hanging over the check-in desk is being replaced with one that says "Elite Airways."

The refurbishments to the terminal, which have cost $63,300, were approved by the NAA in September. An additional $24,200 is being spent to install security equipment for the Elite flights, including hallway dividers and the framework for a pat-down room. Even though the deal with Elite calls for 70-passenger flights, the terminal's waiting area will have 90 seats because, as one worker put it, "People don't like to sit next to each other."

The Naples Airport Authority met Thursday and discussed the cost of the new service. In the first year with Elite, commercial service expenses are expected to go up about $1,400 from what was budgeted. But revenues, driven by fuel sales, are estimated to increase by $10,400.

NAA commissioners continued to question Soliday's decision to approve the deal with Elite without vetting it with the board first. Commissioner Raymond Stricklen called the issue a "question of process" and asked Soliday if the airport did a background check on Elite before inking the contract.

Before the deal, the airport didn't do an independent review of Elite's safety record, maintenance record or customer-service record, Soliday said. He said it would have gone against the airport's practices to do so.

"It seemed to me to be rushing to judgment without a lot of information that may be appropriate," Stricklen said.

Also on Thursday, the NAA authorized a decision to ask its headhunting firm to reconsider a pool of candidates to replace Soliday after the top finalist dropped out.

Soliday, who has directed the airport for more than 20 years, announced earlier this year he is retiring. Gene Conrad, director of the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, was considered the top candidate before removing his name from consideration.

Sheila Dugan, Soliday's deputy, was interviewed for the job this month and is considered a finalist.

- Source:  http://www.naplesnews.com