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Tell commissioners your thoughts on airport schedule

Let’s hear from the public what they want in air service at Alpena County Regional Airport.

That was the decision of Alpena County commissioners this week — one we think was a good idea.

The commissioners asked for, and were granted, an extra week to make their recommendation to the United State Department of Transportation as to whether they wanted to keep with the current schedule — two daily flights in and out of Detroit — or take advantage of a new option: one flight in and out of Detroit but also one flight in and out of Minneapolis. The service period for each option is two years.

As with any decision their are pros and cons to each proposal.

This week commissioners learned the findings from a consultant they hired to evaluate the options. Some of the highlights of that study were:

∫ the Detroit only proposal forecasts 20,000 annual passengers, while the Minneapolis/Detroit option forecasts 25,000.

∫ on average, the morning flight to Detroit had only nine passengers. This is the flight that would be lost if the Minneapolis flight is added to Alpena. The consultant believed as long as people understand that, it should help fill the remaining Detroit flight closer to capacity each day.

∫ enplanements are projected to increase for Alpena if it were to add the Minneapolis connection. A conservative estimate of 5,000 was mentioned by Airport Manager Steve Smigelski.

∫ the Minneapolis/Detroit option does not have a plane overnighting in Alpena, as is now the case. When a plane overnights, it guarantees it will be there the next morning for use.

If you have an opinion, let commissioners or airport officials know what it is.

Let your voice be heard.

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