HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirport.Minutes.04-26-2017AIRPORTBOARD MINUTES
.► April 26, 2017
Saulr'.s Place Restaurant
Jul Allil gla, Roben Cork
Others Present: Bruce Loa. Alrpora Marrager; Molly Flood. Depots Ci -t Manager: Ratrira
Amos, Depnh Airpnn Manager; Ilannah Sees ing' Administrative Clerk
Minutes of Previous Meeting:
The meeting was called to order at 11:35am. Mr. Welker moved and Mr. Ali, right seconded
ttic motion to approve the in i nutes from the March UL. 2017 meting. I lie motion was
appro}cd with a anamme.us vote.
If. Appearances:
A. Dan Wolf, Founder and CEO of Cape Air; AndrewBonnie, Senior Vice PI'esident of
Plain :ag for Cape Air; Matt Reinhard!. Regional Direcnatiu Cape Air; Moliv Hand,
Deputy Cit} Manager: and John Mcln er, President of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of
Commerce.
Ill. Old Business
A. Airport Activity Report — Mr. Lov Presented lho Aamert Acush, Report. Mr. Loy
informed the board that Cape Air boarding's were up approximately IA% over March
7016. He contributed [Itis to the new pare Bucketing si'slem. He also di,cusscd the air
traffic numbers and noted that traffic seems to be down 2 °.59'o year to date.
• Air Service Discussion — Andrew Bonney. The Senior Vice President of Plarnine
for Cape ,Air' introduced lumscif: Dan Wolf, Owner and CEO: Matt Rienhardt
Regional Director; as well as the curer Cape Air staff that were in attendance. Mr.
Wait' addressed the board after the intr,kxhiors. Mr. Wolf expressed tits deep
disappointment in the current operational situation within Cape Air. He teas
her^fled with the low cttlnpletion factor ani said that he is now mcating daih with
his team to closely monitor all operation numbers and ensure that tine situation
doesn't gel out of hand again.
Mr. Wolf told the Board that Cape Air is making progress. I to discussed the current
pilot shortage situation that is straining the aviation induslry as a whole, lie .said (hit
in order to better serve the customers of Cape Air it is critical that backups be put
into place autl scheduling is ju t right W ensure than completion factor remains high.
Air. Wolf acinowledged mat the Airport is looking at other options as far as in
service and wanted to ensure that Cape Air had done everything to the best of their
a!xili[N. Mi, \ko!f olso discussed a recent mceuric that was held between Cape Air
and t Inked Airlines, Cape Air has a code share tcilh United Express and has the best
operations', ucmbers et al! other (!-riled carie ,baro:'.. Uiscussinr continued on the
.subjecl. It was also discussed that recent[N Southwest Airlines had converted their
reser,ation sN to n to the Amadeus System which is the samesystem that Cape Air
has been using liw a number of )cars now. ']'his could pcssibls open to door to new
intcrliuo relationships hettvccn Southwest and Cape Ain 'Ire Board recegnited that
his would be a huge asset and a way it, continue stivice to St. Louis. 'file Board also
v.
asked Mr. Wolf about his plans to update Cape Air's fleet. Mr. Wolf emphasized to
�.. the Board that Cape Air will "plan, plan, plan" for any naw Ilect options. He
expressed that Cape Air has been in business for a long time with this ha11 FICSS
model, has never filed bankruptcy, has never been bought out, and operates with no
debt This is something that Mr. Wolf will continue to strive for. Discussion
continued on ideas for possible new fleet options. Mr. Wolf discussed the idea of
"frequency over size' meaning that he would rather have four, nine passenger,
flights a day giving passengers more schedule flexibility, than only two. eighteen
passenger flights a day.
Mr. Wolf expressed his belief in the importance of long term relationships and hopes
that Cape Girardeau will choose to continue working with Cape Air.
Mr. Bonnie made a presentation to the hoard. He began with discussing the
possibilitythe ]'resident Trump will eliminate the Lssential Air Service and urged
everyone to reach out to their elected officials W help ensure that this doesn't
happen. Mr. Bonnie talked about a group ha is a part of with the United Stated
Department of Transportation that has been tasked with plans to improve small
community air service Mr. Bonnie's presentation went on to highlight Cape Air's
desire to continue growing carefully and deliberately without taking on debt. He also
discussed the fare bucketing system and the success that has been. Ile noted that
Cape Girardeau was the tit's] commun itv to I this system and that February was the
3"' best February since Cape Air started serving the Cape Commmnily. and March
was the 2n' best March. Advanced bookings were up 300'o and completion rale was
up to n9.-
Mr. Albright pointed out that in order for the Cape Giru'deau Airport to reach into
the next funding bracket with MoDOT and the FAA Cape Air would have to reach
10,000 annual boarding's and that was not a feasible possibility with the current
schedule. Mr. Albright asked if there was anything that could he done to reach that
"magic number" such as adding unsubsidized flights to the schedule Mn Bonnie
discussed the cost associated with doing mal and suggested putting a bid in with the
HAS for six flights a day. This would increase the number of pilots needed to sluff,
and the number of ai r Grafi needed.
Mr. Wolf then discussed Cape Airs gateway project which dies have leanted up
with Jet Blue, and Embry Riddle University to create The program is an internship
with a guaranteed entry level position following graduation. ']'his "First Officer
Program" is helping Cape Air build their pilot force in order to provide for their
customers. NIt. Dewrock asked whether Cape Air had any outreach programs within
the communities that they serve that would help draw people to the aviation
profession to build a base loyal to serving the Cape Air company as well as the
community thev are providing pilot service to.
Mr. Albright questioned the Cape Air's plans to update their fleet and the feasibility
of Cape getting service to a different, huh airport. Mr. Wolf discussed different
aircraft options that Cape Air has been discussing, though a fleet overhaul is not in
the works in the near future.
Mr. Ronnie discussed the new Cape Air siation that will be opening in Chicago and
that that wi 11 open new opportunities for service in the Midwest, At the ti in though,
Cape Air is not yet prepared to provide service anywhere other than St. Louis.
B, Cape Aviation Actnily Report - Due to Mr. Irwin's absence Mr. I.oy also presented the
Cape Aviation Activity Report. Ile reported that fuel numbers were down approximately
14% front March 2016, and 11 % sear to date. It is still unsure why the numhers have
been lower.
C. Projects Update
Runway 10-28 Lighting Project Update — Mr. Loy informed the board that the
pre -construction meeting for the 10-28 project was scheduled for May I, 2017 with
the tenant nweting to Ibllo�e sumetime atter.
Runway 2-20 Overlay Project Update — Mr. Loy briefly discussed the May I"pre-
bid mating agenda as well as an overview of what the project would consist of
including using milled reusing milled asphalt materials for other projects such as a
parking lot near the entrance to the airport to provide access to the jet and memorial
placard, ur expanding parking for Cape Copters.
B. 2017 Airport Events
• Rusty Pilot Course Update — Mr. Loy discussed the Rustv Pilots Course that will
be taking place on Saturday April 29".
E. Enterprise Lease Update — Mr. Loy informed the Board that the lease between the City
and Emerprise Rent -a -Car had been approved through the City and had been sent to
Entciprise awaiting final approval
F. Agricultural Lease Update — Mr. Loy discussed the Agricultural else that was in the
process of being placed for bid. He gave a orielhistory on the land and past owners and
expressed that he looked thrward to working with whoever the nest farmer would be.
IV. New Business:
V. Non Agenda Items:
VI. Adjournment
There being na other business, Mr. Bohnsack moved to adjourn the meeting and Mr. Scesing
seconded the motion. All were in favor. 'I he meeting was adjourned at 1:10pm.
Minutes prepared by
I lannah Seesing
Administrative Clerk