On Wednesday, the Bradford Regional Airport Authority approved a 2018 operational budget that is slightly lower than its 2017 budget.
The 2018 operational budget, at $571,580, is $1,838 less than the 2017 budget of $573,418, with small savings realized in several areas including utilities. Authority members approved the budget at their monthly meeting on Wednesday.
A total of 368 passengers flew out of Bradford Regional Airport in November, and another 363 flew in.
This puts the average daily passenger count at 13.54, still above the minimum average of 10 required for the Essential Air Service. However, Airport Manager Alicia Dankesreiter noted that the airport will still need to increase the average count to 16 in order to reach a passenger subsidy that does not exceed $200 each.
Avis car rental has completely vacated the airport, but the airport still has car rental service through Zook Motors. Airport officials are working with Zook to promote the Ford Rent A Car (FRAC) program.
Dankesreiter noted that all of Zook’s rental cars start with less than 18,000 miles on them, and they offer good service.
She explained that the franchisee for Avis pulled the company out of all airports, saying, “It wasn’t just us.”
Later in the meeting, Mark Cestari, chief commercial officer for Southern Airways Express, explained, “We are going to support Zook and have Enterprise to supplement.”
Enterprise is located in Bradford, not at the airport.
Cestari reported on survey information the airport has started collecting from its passengers.
The report “tells us a lot of information that we were flying blind on previously,” he said.
Among the numbers were local flights versus connecting flights. About 30 percent of flights were University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students going back and forth.
They asked people about their flight destinations, airlines and what their ZIP Codes are, too.
Through the surveys, he learned many things, such as the number of business flyers was more positive than he thought, and the airport has begun to reach a lot of customers in St. Marys.
Having this data will help airport officials plan in the future, he indicated.
The airport reported last month having a number of flights that were not on time, but Cestari explained that it was because pilots were taking on too many flights. They have since obtained more pilots and anticipate better times.
Brian Wolfel, the consulting engineer from GAI Consultants, brought up a master plan update that is in the works.
Dankesreiter noted a committee will be formed for the master plan for anyone on the authority interested in helping.
The authority heard about other projects at the airport, too.
Regarding the upcoming project to have the state police barracks moved to the airport, Dankesreiter said construction is set to begin in spring. The move should be complete in December 2018.
Dankesreiter said the Forest Oil Hangar door project is ready to go to bid. Also, the airport recently installed an upgraded security system.
The authority also voted in favor of taking out a $600,000 loan from Northwest. Some of the money will help out with the Forest Oil Hangar project.
Cestari noted he is working to make some low fares to Europe next summer, and he asked the authority to offer ideas for supplemental flights, such as spring break or summer trips.
Suggestions provided includes Atlantic City, Ocean City, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Fort Lauderdale.
“I’d like to get to the point where we can do one of these a month or one of these every other month,” Cestari said.
Cestari also talked about an update at the Pittsburgh airport. He explained it is trying to create its own internal connection system. The system would save time for people taking connecting flights who won’t have to reclaim their bags in between.
Dankesreiter said they have systems like it in Europe, but this would be the first in the United States.
