Sunday, October 21, 2007
Bowling Green Airport Studies Demand for Commercial
Flights
WBKO-TV Ch 13 (ABC), Bowling Green (KY)
The Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport could be
experiencing some major changes.
This week, the airport received a
$150,000 federal grant from the Department of Transportation to research our
area's demand for commercial flights, but what needs to happen before the plan
can go through?
"There are many, many airports in the U.S. that apply for
participation in this program--76 to be exact," airport manage Robert Barnett
explained.
It's called the Small Community Air Service Development
Program, and it's been awarded to roughly two dozen airports across the
country.
Bowling Green was chosen this week.
“We're very fortunate
that only two airports in Kentucky received this grant. The Bowling Green
airport and the Lexington airport," Barnett added.
The grant was made
possible with the support of U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch
McConnell.
McConnell calls Bowling Green a hub for South-Central
Kentucky's business and industry. The question is--is that enough to warrant
commercial flights into Bowling Green?
Studies funded by the grant will
find out.
"We have a committee set aside from our board that will review
proposals to make a determination as to who's the best for marketing strategy
studies. These studies will identify if there is a demand for this area,"
Barnett continued.
It's a process that is estimated to take three-to-four
months, and while there's a long while to go before the study's results are
revealed, Barnett says the airport is up to the possible changes.
"We
have the adequate rating and we have the adequate equipment. We've been prepared
for some time now to receive some type of scheduled commercial service," Barnett
said.
Barnett added that if the airport secures a commercial server, the
main changes to the airport will be made in security and parking.
Click
or paste the link to view the video:
http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/10703281.html#