Hawaiian air carriers competing for N.M. air

The battle of Hawaii's airline industry has landed on New Mexico soil. Hawaii-based Island Air is expected to sign an agreement with The Enchanted Air Partnership Inc., formerly Air New Mexico Partnership Inc., ...

[Native New Mexican]

I'd rather see more NM Airlines Flights in Eddy County and support Roswell's efforts for more air service. I've flown with NM Air on several occasions without issue. In fact their customer service and on-time record are excellent. It seems to me that it makes more sense to include additional flighs from Carlsbad and Artesia than have people drive to Roswell. We need to focus on transportation enhancements for our area, not competition that will most likley force someone out. The passenger numbers from Eddy County just won't support two services at this point in time in my opinion. Thanks Tom Mathis for standing up for Eddy County's residents

[combatpilot]

Tom Mathis got it right. Why would Carlsbad and Eddy County want to subsidize air service for Roswell? Roswell now wants all of New Mexico to subsidize their air service. By following the recommendations of Bill Armstrong, Carlsbad could possibly lose their FAA Essential Air Service rights with the federal government. Why subsidize local air service with local and state tax dollars when you can use "other peoples's money"(FAA/EAS federal funds). The State of New Mexico would be the only state in the union subsidizing local air service if Bill Armstrong gets his way. I hope Bill Richardson doesn't fall for this waste of state tax money.

Carlsbad and Eddy County ought to be giving local funds to NM Airlines for marketing purposes to increase ridership out of Carlsbad to help them expand their service to ABQ & ELP instead of helping Roswell expand their airport services.

[Idiocracy]

This is just bizarre! Mesa Air Group couldn't make money flying 19-seat aircraft to Farmington or Roswell, so they dropped out last year. Now we're going to throw millions at an airline flying 36-seat aircraft? Something's very, very fishy here. "You got some 'splainin' to do, Lucy!"

I want to see the BUSINESS CASE of how they are going to make money and not just waste it.

[Boondoggle]

"He told us he supported the idea of a statewide intra-state airline serving as many communities as possible," Armstrong told the commission.

Uh, we have one: New Mexico Airlines. Why do we need another?

[Boondoggle]

"Bill Armstrong said air Service from Taos is scheduled for December when the area's ski season at Angel Fire is generally in full swing, he said."

"The FAA clarified the question of whether Cessna 208B Caravans such as the one used by New Mexico Airlines can land in an airport without Code of Federal Regulations Part 139 certification."

Wait a second...the FAA had a problem with NMA serving Taos and Artesia with 9 seat airplanes, but they've okayed it now. But not any larger.(9 seats and under are also exempt from TSA.) Certainly not 37 seats! Have you ever flown into Taos? Their terminal is the size of a living room...37 people would overwhelm it. They don't have full-time firefighting, TSA, or anything else.

Someone is not telling the truth here.

"They also will get there faster. Some people are opposed to the twin engine plane that is not cabin pressurized."

Uh, New Mexico Airlines flies a single-engine airplane that is by far the most efficient small airliner. Island Air flies twin engine airplanes that burn about 10 times as much fuel. NMA can make money with 9 seats where Mesa couldn't with 19-seats and Island Air will never make money with 37 seats. Repeat after me, "Small towns get small planes."

Something just doesn't make sense here! The county commissioners need to ask a lot more tough questions! The first one is, "Mr. Armstrong, could you show us another state that has intra-state airline service with 37 seat aircraft or larger?" Uh, well, uh, not right now, but uh, we hope to become the first one.

As the poster above said, the 2nd question that needs asking is, "How will this airline make money when Mesa couldn't with smaller airplanes?"

3rd: "Please explain how the airline will use our tax-dollars to become self-sustaining."

Roswell is getting too big for its britches. Armstrong's thinking is that, just because people will ride 50-seat jets to a hub like DFW, they will also suddenly want to flow to a non-hub airport like Albuquerque.

[JD Raaz]

If this double-posts I apologize. I believe I may have to break it up in order for it to fit on these comment pages.

There are times when I believe we really should pause and take notice of what is happening in our name, and this is one of them.

Decisions based upon personalities simply have no place in public government. Sound fiscal policy is not too much to ask for. After reading this article some pretty obvious questions come to mind that I believe should be asked. They include, but are not limited to:

Has the Current Argus/County of Eddy/City of Carlsbad confirmed with Island Air that they are ready to enter into this transaction? I see no statement from an Island Air representative regarding their participation.

Will full participation in this venture jeopardize Eddy County/City of Carlsbad’s EAS funding? It was due to Roswell’s subsidizing of American Airlines that they lot their EAS service to Albuquerque. Are we in danger of losing our federal tax dollar subsidized service and creating a system where we are under Roswell’s thumb.

What extra cost is there to the City for required staffing of Fire Department Personnel at the airport due to the use of a 37 seat airplane?

What extra cost might be incurred by the City regarding security and personnel needs at the airport due to the use of a 37 seat airplane?

Has this operation model been used in other regions with similar population and air traffic loads as Eddy County/Carlsbad? Have they been successful? How long has it taken them to operate before they could do so without local tax dollar subsidy?

[JD Raaz]

A continuation of the above post: Again, my apologies.

What will participation mean to Eddy County/City of Carlsbad regarding our present non-subsidized flights to El Paso? Ruidosa? Midland-Odessa?

Does Island Air intend to provide non-subsidized flights to these regions? Others?

Eddy County/City of Carlsbad would have to provide $400,000.00 before Island Air would agree to service Carlsbad. What is the purpose of using LOCAL tax dollars when we are already receiving service to Albuquerque through a federally funded subsidy.

Mr. Armstrong states that Island Air will be providing service from Roswell and Farmington to Albuquerque by Oct. 1. Air Service from Taos is scheduled for December. What guarantees (subsidies) are in place for this service? Can Carlsbad expect to have to compensate at the same rate?

Are the local taxpayers being asked to spend their dollars to subsidize LANL, WTS and other companies comfort so that their executives can fly on near empty planes?

When asked what benefit Eddy County/City of Carlsbad residents would receive from this service Mr. Armstrong replied:“…They also will get there faster. Some people are opposed to the twin engine plane that is not cabin pressurized." Well Mr. Armstrong, I don’t drive a Ford because I prefer my Lexus. However, I don’t ask the taxpayers of Eddy County to subsidize my preference.

Our County Commissioners and City Councilpersons may already have answers to these questions that simply have not been communicated to the citizenry yet. Perhaps there is more logic behind this than I’m seeing at this time. I’m going to take the time and forward these questions to the County Commissioners and City Councilpersons I can reach and perhaps the benefit to Carlsbad will become more clear.

Right now it looks like we are being used as an open-wallet for the benefit of Roswell but I could be wrong. If anyone here can enlighten me as to the positives I would appreciate it.

[Is Bill Armstrong a liar]

Appearing before the County Commissioners Bill Armstrong said Island Air would be strating servce to Taos, Roswell and Farmington in the fall. He gave specific months the service would start.

Standing before he Carlsbad City Council Jon Hitchcock said several carriers were intrested, and that his group was in negotiations to pick one to serve, with no specific start date.

Which one of them is lying?