By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
It was a short work session Thursday night for Hays city commissioners. Mayor Eber Phelps had to leave early in order to participate in the opening ceremonies of the annual Special Olympics Basketball and Cheerleading Tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Phelps moved up one item on the agenda in order to participate in the discussion.
Up for review, the 2016-2018 Essential Air Service (EAS) contract for the Hays Regional Airport. The current provider, SkyWest Airlines, was one of three proposals submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which fully funds EAS.
Also bidding were Great Lakes Aviation, the former commercial air passenger service in Hays, and Via Air.
City Manager Toby Dougherty recommended that commissioners recommend SkyWest to USDOT, even though SkyWest’s federal subsidy request was higher than the other two bids.
“They didn’t hit the numbers they thought they would,” Dougherty explained, “but they’d keep the same 12 flights per week and ask for more subsidies.” He pointed out that when Great Lakes was in Hays, it had “about a 60 percent on-time flight record, and ended its contract early with the city–in May 2014–leaving Hays without a commercial air carrier for nearly three months.”
“I think, over the years, Great Lakes had the worst complaints I heard about any air service we ever had in Hays,” Phelps commented.
Via Air would have utilized 30-passenger ERJ jets; SkyWest uses 50-passenger jets. Via Air would does not have code share agreements with other airlines. If checking luggage, a passenger would be required to retrieve his/her luggage in Denver, check in with the appropriate airline, and then go back through security to re-enter the terminal area.
“I think SkyWest is the best option,” Commissioner James Meier said.
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors presented a letter of support for the selection of SkyWest to the commission. The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development Board is expected to do the same next week. Midwest Energy has also expressed its support of SkyWest.
Commissioners directed Dougherty to draft a letter to USDOT supporting the selection of SkyWest.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the work session.