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WR Port Authority approves proposed start-up of daily air service
By Ed Runyan
VIENNA
By a 7-0 vote, the Western Reserve Port Authority on Wednesday approved the proposed start-up of daily airline service between the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and a Midwest hub airport.
If Aerodynamics Inc. of Beachwood, Ohio, and Atlanta succeeds in getting approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin the service, it will be the first daily service at the airport since 2002.
Service could begin as early as Thanksgiving, said Dan Dickten, director of aviation at the regional airport.
Daily service has been touted for several years as an economic-development tool that would allow local business travelers to connect with a hub airport where they could fly anywhere in the world.
Aerodynamics initially proposed using the Detroit International Airport, but Dickten said Wednesday the connecting airport could be “changed very easily” to another Midwestern hub once the Department of Transportation approves the company’s application to start the service.
Port authority officials are hoping that will be Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Dickten said he hopes an announcement of start-up can be made in the next month or so.
John Moliterno, interim executive director of the port authority, which runs the airport, said DOT approval “could come any day.”
The aviation committee of the port authority recently recommended the Aerodynamics proposal to the full board. The proposal has been under review by the DOT since June 25.
Among the items DOT is examining is whether Aerodynamics has the ability to operate this type of service. The company provided large amounts of financial information. The application says Aerodynamics emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Aug. 12, 2013.
When asked about Aerodynamics’ strength as a company, Ron Klingle, port authority chairman, said, “We understand there have been some issues in the past, but they’ve gotten through those quite well.
“I think what they’ve done in the past couple of months [during the DOT application process] is commendable and presents a good opportunity for the airport and the community.”
Covelli Enterprises chairman Sam Covelli, a recent addition to the port authority board, said of the proposed service, “I think it’s a positive step for the area.”
Moliterno said he has faith that DOT is taking the necessary steps to ensure that Aerodynamics will be able to operate the service effectively.
The company would use 50-seat jet aircraft to fly between Youngstown and a hub airport, possibly 10 times per week, according to its application. The company would be assured a 5- percent profit margin through a revenue guarantee of up to $1.2 million from the port authority that would consist of $780,000 from a DOT grant and $420,000 from the port authority.
ADI would access a $500,000 revolving line of credit from Far West Capital and receive an additional $130,000 from the port authority before starting service.