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AUGUSTA AIRPORT

Hopes for more flights with new carrier

Cape Air to replace Colgan Air

By Keith Edwards kedwards@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- City officials hope an airline flying smaller commercial planes can bring bigger things, and more passengers, to the Augusta State Airport.

City councilors unanimously selected Cape Air to be the city-run airport's new commercial airline, replacing Colgan Air, which held the contract since at least the early 1990s.

If the city's choice is approved by U.S. Department of Transportation officials, Cape's four-year contract would start Nov. 1.

Airport Manager John Guimond said DOT officials generally grant the contract to the airline recommended by local officials, as they have in the past in Augusta.

Critics said Colgan failed to attract more passengers to fly out of Augusta, with annual enplanements generally averaging between 7,000 and 8,000 a year during Colgan's run as the airport's only commercial passenger service.

Officials hope Cape Air can increase those numbers, despite the fact the airline flies much smaller planes than Colgan. They believe Cape will be able to provide cheaper fares, more flights, and better connections and schedules for people flying out of Augusta.

Colgan flies 34-passenger Saab 340-Bs with pressurized cabins, two pilots and an attendant. Cape Air flies nine-passenger Cessnas 402s, with unpressurized cabins and one pilot.

"Some may see this as a step back for Augusta," said Mayor Roger Katz. "I think it is far from being a step backward. It will be a step forward for our community, because more people will find they can fly because they will now be able to afford the flights. And there will be more flights by Cape than there would be with Colgan."

Some city councilors said they received more public input on the airport decision than any other issue in their tenures.

Numerous Colgan proponents, most of them frequent business travelers out of Augusta, sent a barrage of e-mails to city councilors. Other businessmen urged councilors, in person before their Thursday vote, to stick with Colgan.

"We have gotten unbelievable service," said Michael Murphy-- founder of TRC, formerly known as EPro, an environmental consulting firm employing about 150 in Augusta -- said of his employees flying with Colgan. "Frankly, our people will be flying out of Portland, if you change. I'm not sure I'm going to ask our employees to fly on a small nine-seater with one pilot."

But councilors said the issue of the airport's federal subsidy, and the possibility of losing it, was too big to ignore.

Through the Essential Air Service program, the federal government subsidizes commercial airlines that fly into airports where service is deemed essential but where passenger traffic doesn't generate enough income to cover expenses.

The subsidy is capped at $200 per passenger.

Colgan currently operates at a subsidy of $298 per passenger. Cape Air's proposal includes a less than $200-per-passenger subsidy, at $159 to $163 per passenger.

Guimond said the airport could possibly lose its federal subsidy if it were to continue operating with a provider with per-passenger costs exceeding the limit -- and that could potentially end commercial passenger service at the airport.

Officials said Cape Air will be under the subsidy cap even if it does not boost ridership on planes flying out of Augusta.

Cape Air Chief Operating Officer Dave Bushy said he is confident Cape will increase the number of passengers flying out of Augusta, as it has in Rockland.

In Rockland, passenger counts are up 14 percent since Cape took over previously Colgan flights between Rockland and Boston two years ago, according to Cape Air's proposal filed with the DOT and city.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com