By Meredith Gardner
meredith.gardner@theindependent.com

While Honolulu-based Island Air hopes to diversify its operations by entering into the Essential Air Service market, Great Lakes looks forward to the possibility of returning to Grand Island, the company's chief executive officer said.

"This would be somewhat like coming back home for us," said CEO Charles Howell.

During a public hearing at the airport administration office, representatives from both airlines said they would work closely with the community if awarded the contract.

The Essential Air Service contract became available after Grand Island's current commercial carrier, Mesa Airlines, filed a notice of termination with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Since January, airfares have increased substantially at the CNRA, and passenger boarding numbers have subsequently plummeted. In March, the airport boarded 298 passengers, down 53 percent from the same month last year.

Both Island Air and Great Lakes have proposed air service to and from Kansas City International.

Great Lakes is the largest Essential Air Service provider in the country, Howell said, and recently took over service for Essential Air Service provider Big Sky Airlines, which went out of business.

Great Lakes has proposed a schedule of three flights per day using a 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.

Airport Executive Director Mike Olson expressed concern about the availability of those aircraft, since there is a limited number in circulation and Great Lakes is expanding its service drastically after taking over for Big Sky.

Mesa Airlines owns a number of the Beechcraft planes, Howell said, and the Department of Transportation is pressuring the airline to free up the aircraft it isn't using for lease to other airlines.

Howell said he was confident Great Lakes would be able to obtain the aircraft it needs, but if for some reason they don't, the carrier won't be able to provide service to Grand Island.

Island Air is new to the Essential Air Service business and would work to quickly establish itself in the Midwest and Grand Island market, said spokesman Jeffrey Hartz. With a cyclical tourism market in Hawaii, Island Air hopes to diversify its options and create more stable operations on the mainland.

If awarded the Grand Island contract, Island Air would potentially use Grand Island's fixed base operator, Trego Dugan Aviation, as a maintenance facility because of its large hangar. Island Air would fly using a 37-seat DeHavilland Dash-8 aircraft and does not anticipate having any trouble freeing up aircraft for Grand Island's use, Hartz said.

The larger aircraft would allow Island Air more flexibility with fares, Hartz said, and the company would focus on strong operational integrity and on-time flights.

Eventually, Island Air would like to operate independently of the Essential Air Service funding, Hartz said.

"We're not in this for a one-year or a two-year process," Hartz said. "(We) want to be here for decades to come."

Howell said Great Lakes would also be dedicated to the Grand Island market and would do what it could to become less dependent on Essential Air Service Subsidies.

Great Lakes was disappointed when it wasn't awarded Grand Island's Essential Air Service contract two years ago, Howell said, and the company feels like it left Grand Island on good terms.

The airline previously provided westbound service from Grand Island to Denver. During the bidding process two years ago, the community indicated it wanted to fly east instead. Now that the airline offers the eastbound service Grand Island is looking for, it make sense for Great Lakes to return, Howell said.

The Hall County Airport Authority will use Wednesday's presentations and public feedback make a recommendation on its air carrier and flight schedule preference during its board retreat on Friday.

It will then forward that recommendation on to the mayor and city council. The Department of Transportation will make the final decision on who will provide commercial service to Grand Island. Both carriers said it would likely take 90 to 120 days after the contract was awarded to begin Grand Island operations.

Olson encouraged members of the public to continue giving feedback on their air carrier preference until 4 p.m. Thursday. A short survey is available on the airport's Web site, www.flygrandisland.com.

"The board is making their decision based on the public input," Olson said. "Don't think that your voices won't be heard. I believe that they will."