TEXARKANA, Ark. - Texarkana Regional Airport might be able to get a commercial passenger route to Houston if the local community can come up with $97,000 in matching grant funds by this year's end.
Airport Board members agreed Thursday to pursue and apply for about $887,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Economic grant funds, which will have to be matched by $97,000 in local community funds by the end of this year. If this happens, the airport stands a chance of getting an new commercial passenger airline to start offering flights to Houston by next November.
Airport Director Paul Mehrlich told board members Thursday, during their monthly meeting, that he had spoken to seven airlines services, of which one, which presently wants to remain anonymous, would be interested in offering flights to Houston.
If received, the $1.1 million will be used to market the new route, as well as provide the airline with minimum revenue guarantees, during the early months of operations, while people are still learning about the new route.
Since minimum revenue guarantees can't come from airport revenues, the Texarkana, Texas City Council would be sponsoring this grant. This means that payments to the airline, would initially come from the city and the airport would manage and use the grant to provide reimbursements. This also means the city, while putting the money up front, wouldn't take a loss as funds would be reimbursed within 30 days.
With airport board members now approving the seeking of the grant, the Texas-side City Council will next have to approve accepting the grant. Applications for the grant are due Jan. 26 and are usually awarded in February.
Currently, the airport has only one commercial flight destination -- Dallas-Ft Worth International Airport.
Last year, about 57 airports applied but only 18 were awarded this type of grant funds. If awarded, the grant will be good for four years.