American Airlines recently announced they are thinking of pulling commercial flights out of smaller Texas markets.
Including Texarkana.
The potential move is designed to save money. COVID-19 is hurting commercial airlines and passenger counts are down. Larger aircraft are flying without a full compliment of paying travelers. So American wants to free up smaller aircraft to use at larger airports like Dallas-Fort Worth. The smaller aircraft are currently in use at airports like ours. If the aircraft are transferred, local service will cease.
That's bad news for the Twin Cities. Very bad news indeed.
Local airline service is essential to a successful business environment, not only now but for any future growth. A company considering Texarkana as a location will be less likely to locate here without commercial air service.
Local officials are working to try and keep American flying out of Texarkana. Last week the Airport Authority waved the airlines' landing fees from April 1 until August 1. That will mean giving up about $32,000 in revenue. But if it helps keep American here it will be worth it.
This is a tough time for airlines and all travel-related businesses. Leisure travel is practically dead and even business travel is down since conferences, conventions and the like have been mostly canceled. Even routine business trips are giving way to teleconferencing.
City and airport officials, as well as the business community, will have to work with American and do whatever is possible to keep air service here in the Twin cities. It's just that important to our community.