McCook can do its part for air service

"AIR SERVICE AT RISK!"

For the second time this year, the citizens of the western Nebraska communities of McCook and Alliance have seen those words emblazoned in headlines on the front page of the Midlands section of Nebraska's largest newspaper, The Omaha World-Herald.

The latest alert came this morning in a story written by the World-Herald's Washington correspondent, Jake Thompson. In the article, Thompson reports that the Bush Administration is proposing to cap essential airline subsidies at $275 per passenger.

The perception portrayed -- both by journalists and politicians -- is that this is a terrible thing. But if you read the fine print ... if you take the time to evaluate the impact on McCook, Alliance and five other communities in other states ... you will realize that the cost to the communities is not great, and it is a price the towns would gladly pay to keep scheduled airline service.

"Airline service is one of the most valuable services we provide for residents of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas," says McCook Mayor Linda Taylor. "We are doing all we can to make sure McCook maintains scheduled airline service."

In McCook's case, that amount is only seven cents per passenger. That's right, seven cents, for the year 2000. With current figures, the picture could change.

Figure that out and you will readily see that it's a miniscule amount. Even taking one of the busiest months -- May of 2001 when there were 293 boardings in McCook -- the cost over and above the subsidy would have been only $20.51 for McCook.

It would cost more at Alliance, where city officials say they may have to raise $10,000 to make up the difference between the subsidy and the actual cost of airline service. But Alliance Mayor Dan Kusek is just as determined as McCook Mayor Taylor to maintain airline service. "We would do everything we could, and we would come up with the difference to keep the essential air service," he said.

Why are the mayors so determined to do all they can to keep air service? Because --as the title of the legislation states -- airline service is "essential" for towns in remote rural locations.

It is our link to the rest of the world ... the way we reach Denver on our way to destinations across the United States and abroad.

The citizens of rural America greatly appreciate the subsidy of $275 per passenger and, as the McCook and Alliance mayors have proclaimed, we will gladly pay our part if more is required to retain airline service.