Affordable air service subsidy scheduled to expire | The Wichita Eagle
Affordable air service subsidy scheduled to expire
BY JEANNINE KORANDA
When low-cost airline Vanguard left Wichita in 1997, tickets out of Mid-Continent Airport increased drastically. And the city started hunting for ways to bring down fares.
In 2002, it succeeded in luring another low-cost carrier, AirTran, agreeing to put up millions to guarantee the company's revenue.
Then, in 2006, the city convinced state legislators that affordable air service in Wichita was vital not only for the region, but for the state. Lawmakers committed to spend $5 million annually to subsidize airfares in south-central Kansas.
That five-year commitment ends in 2011, and backers of Fair Fares in Wichita are lobbying for continued state support.
Gov.-elect Sam Brownback is crafting his budget proposal for the 2012 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The budget will be presented to the Legislature after it convenes Jan. 10.
"We are in a really tight budget atmosphere, but that is one of the things we have to have to be a globally competitive area," said Brownback, a Republican. "You need to have accessible air transportation at reasonable prices."
Although he supports the program, "it is a tight budget atmosphere this year."
Those budget concerns are part of the reason the state shouldn't cut back support now, Watkins said. If the state does not support the program, it will almost immediately lose $6 million from the taxes people would not be paying on airline tickets.
Other supporters say that continuing the $5 million subsidy doesn't just benefit Wichita, it benefits a large portion of Kansas.
Mid-Continent is the major airport in Kansas. The other major airports closest to Wichita are in different states — Kansas City International is in Missouri and Will Rogers World Airport is in Oklahoma City, said Joe Yager, CEO for the Regional Economic Area Partnership, which is made up of 37 city and county governments in south-central Kansas.
The closest airport for people visiting the casino in Dodge City is in Wichita, he said.
Because of Fair Fares, Wichita has been able to attract conventions that otherwise would have gone elsewhere, said Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer. The airport is now pulling in travelers from Oklahoma instead of people from Wichita driving to Tulsa or Oklahoma City for a flight, Brewer said.
"We have had businesses that have said we would not put our business here if you didn't have it (the affordable airfares program)," he said.
The $5 million price tag might seem like a lot, but the return on the investment is far greater, Brewer said.
"This isn't a Wichita issue. The impact is something that is going to help the state of Kansas recover... it is an investment they can make today that they can get a return on today," he said.
Kris Kobach: 'This one just wasn't God's will'
Democrat Laura Kelly defeats Kris Kobach to become Kansas' next governor
Here are key dates, events in Wichita's primary election for mayor and school board
Eagle staff
Stay on top of Wichita's 2019 municipal primary election with this list of essential dates and events.
Kris Kobach remains on board of veterans group that faced consumer warning
Former federal prosecutor hopes to break Kansas Dems' losing streak in Senate races
It's mostly about climate change as protests dwindle on day two of debates
Despite new law, you won't be able to vote wherever you want in the mayoral election
Democrats plan to try ranked-choice voting in 2020 primary to select Trump's opponent
How a change in Kansas law and a new app may help you beat the crowds on Election Day