VIENNA AIRPORT Board mulls 2nd ground-services company

The company also hopes to open a flight school.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
VIENNA -- A second company hopes to sell gasoline and service aircraft at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
On Wednesday, the Western Reserve Regional Port Authority board, which runs the airport, passed a resolution stating they are "willing to consider" allowing ReadyAir LLC to become a fixed-base operator: A company that provides fuel and ground services for aircraft, as well as possibly running its own charter service.
The resolution says the board will also consider letting ReadyAir open a commercial flight school and expand its operations.
The company, which has had an office in the airport terminal since July, offers private and corporate clients fractional ownership in planes. It does not have any aircraft based at the airport, said airport director Steve Bowser.
Issues remain
Many issues have to be worked out before ReadyAir could expand, including where it will be housed, Bowser said.
"We are still in negotiations and we are looking into this further," he said. He said the port authority has not yet checked into the financial standing of ReadyAir.
Company spokesman Steven Larchuk declined to talk about ReadyAir's plans in detail until negotiations with the port authority are complete.
In a press release, the company says it has signed a contract with Air BP to provide BP products and services at the airport.
The company would compete with Winner Aviation, which already provides fuel and services for planes at the airport.
Winner's lease for office and lounge space in the terminal building runs through 2005, with provisions for the company to extend it further, Bowser said.
Company president Rick Hale said the port authority's decision to look at letting ReadyAir move in will affect his relationship with the board.
"It will make a difference in how we look at the airport and how the airport can deal with us," he said.
siff@vindy.com