b'26 LNK AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENTLincoln Airport Takes Creative Route to Adding New Leisure Service BY CHRIS JONESFlying in the face of economic trendsuse facility that serves the Cornhusker States FACTS&FIGURESthat stymied years of efforts to boostcapital city. But when fee waivers, marketing Project: Air Service Development local air connectivity, Lincoln Airportassistance and other typical incentives proved Location: Lincoln Airport in NE (LNK) in southeast Nebraska recently tapped anunsuccessful, LNK found a novel solution in a Focus: Leisure travel unexpected pool of federal dollars to jumpstartmost unexpected place: Congress $1.9 trillion new air service. Now the local community hasCOVID-19 stimulus package, the American Strategy: Adding service from Red Waynonstop flights to seven popular U.S. leisureRescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Service Format: Scheduled public chartersmarkets. And seats are filling up. operated under FAA Part 380After Haring read an article about another Current Destinations: ATL, AUS, BNA, DFW,The new venture is called Red Way, andMidwestern city using ARPA money to support LAS, MCO, MSP leaders from the airport and community arenew air service, he enlisted Airport Authority Aircraft Used: Airbus A320 with 150 seats quietly confident LNKs novel approach to airBoard members to convince leaders from service development is a winner. They alsothe city of Lincoln and Lancaster County to Initial Demand: 20,000+ seats filled in first 3believe the model may provide a blueprint fordirect some of the ARPA funds they received months of operation other similar-size airports that also sufferedto LNK for air service development. The city Airline Sales Agent: Fly Next LLC, on behalf ofschedule cuts when mainstream U.S. carriersand county each contributed $1.5 million, but GlobalX Air Tours LLC reshuffled their networks to larger marketsthe strict timeline associated with ARPA funds Aircraft Operator: Global Crossing Airlines Inc.after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.presented challenges. Specifically, LNK had How it Works: Fly Next acts as sales agent &David Haring, executiveuntil 2024 to obligate its plans for the ARPA purchases aircraft, crew, maintenance & insurancedirector for the Lincolnmoney, and must spend it before 2026. If time from Global Crossing Airlines recipients dont meet ARPA deadlines, they Funding: $3 million from federal COVID-19Airport Authority, explainsrisk losing the funds back to federal coffers in stimulus package (American Rescue Plan Act ofthat local leaders spent 2021)$1.5 million via city of Lincoln; $1.5 millionyears trying to useWashington, D.C. via Lancaster Countytraditional methods toHaring wanted leisure service for LNK, but Cloud-Based Check-In & Gating System:lure more flights to LNK,low-cost carriers serving such destinations AeroClouda medium-sized, multi- DAVID HARING werent a good fit given the airports need to September 2023AirportImprovement.com'