Council supports Pangborn Airport service expansion

The Leavenworth City Council has approved a resolution in support of the expansion of Pangborn Airport air service. The Port of Chelan County, which oversees the airport, has requested the city provide a resolution in support of the Air Service Investment program. 

The goal of the program is to secure daily air services between Pangborn Airport and the San Francisco Bay area. The Air Service program is designed to share the risk of the new service between the Port, Pangborn, the community, airline and federal government. 

The community is to raise $400,000 in pledges, which will be matched 2-to-1 with federal grant dollars. The funds will be used to offset financial operating losses by the airline providing the service, if needed. A successful operation will result in the return of those dollars. 

It is also expected the city would provide some kind of donation, as well. 

“We probably have at least a month. We’re hoping to get approval of the resolution in support from the council, then come back at our next study session and discuss whether or not we wish to pledge,” said Mayor Cheri Kelley Farivar. “We also need to be very clear about where this money might come from, whether from lodging taxes or from the general fund.”

Councilwoman Mia Bretz asked to see the current lodging tax budget when this is discussed. 

“If it comes out of lodging tax, the city has the ‘say yes’ fund, which is approximately $30,000. I don’t think we’ve spent any of that. There’s dollars there,” City Administrator Joel Walinski said. 

In the LAP (Leavenworth Advertising and Promotions) meeting, Councilman Elmer Larsen said there was a need for rental cars from the airport to get to places like Leavenworth. He was glad to see that item in the resolution. 

“The thing that struck me in the economic development meeting, I was thinking people from here going to San Francisco. Now, San Francisco becomes our new market. We can use lodging tax money to attract people to come here,” said Councilwoman Margaret Neighbors. “It’s an easy flight, compared to flying to Seattle and coming over. I’m really in favor of this.”

The San Francisco airport can also be real gateway to the orient as well, Farivar said. 

“It could open up really significant markets to Leavenworth. This is a really good idea,” Farivar said. 

If this works, there might be other airlines, Neighbors said. The council unanimously supported the resolution.  

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.