Funding Driven by the Success of Air Service is Sustainable Air Service Funding – Dedicated funding sources are critical
Sustainable air service funding should include dedicated funding and make up a good amount of the community air service support total funding resources. Funding, to a great degree, should be driven by the success level of the air service performance itself, i.e. self-funding and self-sustaining. For example: a tourism tax will drive the funding needed to meet or exceed the costs of the air service in current and subsequent years rather than fall short of the cost of the air service.
When attempting to obtain sustainable air service funding, finding new sources of funding is difficult for many communities. Many communities have many service needs competing for more limited funding than has been there in the past. Because of this, communities should strategically set a lot of their air service development funding as dedicated. Funding levels should be set where growth in air service drives growth in funding to a level where the new air service as well as incumbent air service will be supported sustainably.
Sustainable air service funding is important to airlines as well. If your community has funds to support your air service one year but not the next and you then cut service you increase how the airline perceives your community in regards to risk. Higher risk perception by the airlines can often mean higher cost via incentives or revenue guarantees needed to get or sustain your air service.
Community Flights has developed over 35 best practices and guiding principles for communities looking to improve their air service. The above is just a small sample of a complete guidebook of best practice.
If you’d like to receive the complete guidebook for FREE: Community Flights Air Service Development Best Practices and Guiding Principles, email: scott@communityflights.com and request that we send the full guide.
Scott Stewart is the principle of Community Flights; an air service support, development and management company. Community Flights works with communities, organizations or businesses on leveraging the great economic asset that air service is for economic gain. Scott formed Community Flights in January 2013 to help mobilize community support efforts and guide clients in bridging the “air service understanding gap” with the airlines to create an airline and community win-win air service support and performance environment. You can find more info about Community Flights at www.communityflights.com. Contact Scott Stewart directly at scott@communityflights.com .