"Stockton-Mexico airline service may be approved"

Monday, December 5, 2005

Stockton-Mexico airline service may be approved
.  San Joaquin County supervisors to vote Tuesday 
.  Some hesitation expressed 
The Central Valley (CA) Business Times


STOCKTON, CALIF. - AeroMexico Airlines could begin flights from Stockton to
Guadalajara, Mexico, in the spring if San Joaquin County supervisors vote to
approve the plan on Tuesday.

At issue is whether the county should accept a $2 million loan from the San
Joaquin Council of Governments to build a customs and immigration inspection
facility at Stockton Metropolitan Airport.

The airport currently has no airline service but supports growing airfreight
activity.

Federal grant money would be used to repay the loan, but some supervisors
have gone on record questioning the fiscal responsibility of accepting a
loan, given the airport's history of attracting and then losing airline
service.

The last airline service in Stockton was offered by America West Airlines,
which flew to its Phoenix, Ariz., hub until 2003.

While the airport has the second-longest runway in the state, it's had a
hard time attracting airline service because travelers in the northern part
of the Central Valley can use Sacramento International Airport or any of
three airports in the Bay Area.

Initially, AeroMexico plans to operate three flights a week between Stockton
and Guadalajara. Airport officials expect the deal to turn profitable for
the county after the third year.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************