Airlines to make pitch for Alamosa

ALAMOSA — The San Luis Valley Regional Airport provides daily, non-stop, round-trip service to Denver International Airport for residents of the San Luis Valley, northern New Mexico and beyond.

This air service is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) through a program for rural communities called the Essential Air Service (EAS). Because the program is publicly funded, the DoT seeks community input when selecting an airline to serve the community every 2-4 years depending on contract length.

Alamosa County is hosting a public forum for each of the three airlines that have proposed to serve the community (proposals attached.) The airlines (if available) will address the following concerns as well as answer as many questions from the public as possible in the time allotted:

• What is your plan to provide reliability (on-time operations)?

• How will you ensure seating and baggage space availability?

• How will your proposal ensure Department of Transportation subsidy cap compliance?

• How will you address excellent customer service?

The public forum will be held on Wednesday, July 25, in the Alamosa County commissioners chambers at 8900 Independence Way, Alamosa.

The tentative schedule is:

8 a.m. - Aircraft arrive for public display.

9 a.m. - Aerodynamics Inc. dba California Pacific - Airline presentation (tentative-not yet confirmed)

9:35 a.m. - Boutique Air (current provider)- Airline presentation (confirmed)

10:10 a.m.- Denver Air Connection - Airline presentation (confirmed)

10:20 – 11 a.m. Public viewing of aircraft