"Williams Gateway renaming bid moves ahead, but few like the idea"

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Airport renaming bid moves ahead, but few like the idea
By Art Thomason
The Arizona Republic


MESA -A member of Williams Gateway Airport's governing board says renaming
the airport is a certainty even though it ranks as one of the least popular
decisions the board will ever make.

"I'm certain it's going to happen," said Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman, one of
five members of the airport authority board. "None of the board members
likes it, including Mayor Phil Gordon of Phoenix. But I would be surprised
if it's not changed."

Gordon said Tuesday that although he supports the renaming, Phoenix steered
clear of the debate over placing Phoenix in the airport's name.

"We've been hesitant to participate," he said. "And I think this airport
will always be known locally as Willie. And I'm going to make sure of that
as a board member." 

The board will vote Sept. 17 on an airport staff proposal to approve
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport as the new moniker, identifying the airport
with its location and ending any reference to its past as Williams Air Force
Base. 

The change is required to land Allegiant Air, the first airline to use the
airport as a hub for passenger service to 13 destinations beginning Nov. 16.


"This is based upon our ability to provide Allegiant with incentives and
other low costs to mitigate the risks associated with starting service to a
new market, the Phoenix area, and utilizing an airport that is essentially
unknown to passengers in their origin cities," said Casey Denny, the
airport's deputy director.

The incentive package, which waives landing and terminal-use fees for two
years and exempts jet fuel flowage fees from pump prices, won board approval
Tuesday as part of an airport-use agreement with Allegiant.

The pact is expected to bring 405,600 visitors to Mesa over a five-year.

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