Improved Air Service

By Victor H "Vic" Bouquet

Improved commercial air service for the SMPAD. The Santa Maria Central Coast Regional Airport!

- Promote the airport in the local area (radio and newspaper) including all commercial carriers currently operating at the airport.
- Offer financial incentives in the form of deferred landing fees, counter rent, etc. I have personally discouraged the use of direct subsididies or financial assistance targeted at a single air line.
- Encouraged the General Manager to continue efforts to promote the airport through local travel agents and to personally solicit improved air service from air carriers that may be interested in serving Santa Maria.

Upon my re-election to the SMPAD Board of Directors I intend to promote another initiative to attract better air service to our airport. I am convinced that we should recognize the value of our airport as a regional airport that is able to offer regional jet service for the entire Central Coast attracting east-bound passengers from Paso Robles to Gaviota. Our geographical location as well as our aeronautical and terminal facilities are far superior to any other facility on the Central Coast. Discussions with several commuter airlines that are adding regional jets to their fleets have high lighted their concern over air traffic delays resulting from congestion at both Los Angeles and San Francisco airports - they would much rather bypass these west coast choke points and offer commuter service directly east bound to link with their major airline partners in Phoenix, Salt Lake City or Denver. In addition, federal legislation was recently introduced to provide funding for upgrades to regional airports in an effort to relieve congestion at the nation's major hubs. We need to take advantage of this unique opportunity to promote regional jet service east bound from Santa Maria. I intend to make this my primary objective during my coming four years on the SMPAD Board of Directors. To this end I will encourage a name change for our airport to "Santa Maria Central Coast Regional Airport." We have to take every opportunity to promote our airport as the airport of choice on the central coast of California - a true regional airport in every sense of the word.