Commentary by Samuel Strait – March 3, 2023
As promised here is a bit more information surrounding the mess at Jack
McNamara Regional Airport that services the area around Crescent City
for commercial air service to Oakland, California. Recently, the
Director of the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority, (BCRAA) Ryan Cooley, updated the
Del Norte County Board of Supervisors regarding their match to a grant
authored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the tune of just over
$9 million for the purpose of refurbishing the runways at the local
airport. Unfortunately for Mr. Cooley, he is clearly not at all pro
active in addressing the actual problems that have plagued the County’s
only Airport since service to San Francisco and Sacramento were
suspended almost a decade ago when Sky West ceased operations to those
destinations. Since that time enplanements have plummeted, we have a
fancy but useless new terminal to maintain, and no way for commercial
air service to grow.
In spite of all the euphoria over the construction of a new terminal at
Jack McNamara Field, service from the airport remains a one horse
commercial airline operation to Oakland, California with few options for
inexpensive service other than to the Southwestern part of the United
States. The Operator, Contour Air, has no inter airline agreements with
any other airlines, except American which does not operate out of
Oakland. Hence, passengers with flights on other airlines to other
locations must collect luggage, check in to following flights, and go
through security a second time. That or seek transportation to San
Francisco to perform the same operation at SFO for out bound flights.
Airline travel in the current age has become much less trouble free and
the addition of extra steps during a trip can cause all sorts of
issues. Prior to the gaggle of airlines that have operated out of
Crescent City over the past decade from Crescent City to first Portland
and now Oakland, many passengers found traveling through San Francisco
or Sacramento a much better option with fewer in-terminal issues, more
out bound options, and normally less expensive flights. When Sky West
ceased operation to the Bay Area, the reasoning was that the regional
airline at the time was transitioning from prop driven planes to 44
passenger regional jets, which cannot land at Jack McNamara Airport due
to a short runway.
Rather than make the effort to correct that deficiency and seek funding
to lengthen the runways, the BCRAA chose to accept funding for the new
terminal. Nearly $50 million later, the new terminal has been completed
and is not much more than a pass through terminal that will shortly
begin to require regular serious maintenance. While the old terminal
may have not been an architect’s wet dream, it served the purpose of
enplaning passengers without the financial burden the new terminal will
place on departing and arriving passengers. For those that fly, you
didn’t really think there wouldn’t be an additional cost, did you?
As such we now have a wonderful and expensive show place terminal with
daily service in thirty passenger Embraer ERJ-135 jets to Oakland
California where fares can range from a bit over $200 round trip in the
off season to over $500 in the peak season. The $14.7 million subsidy
for essential service allows Contour Air to service a maximum of 10,500
enplanements per year, about 60% of the enplanements the last year Sky
West serviced Crescent City with no real room for increasing that
service. Contour Air is maxed out with little room to grow.
So where does one go if Oakland, California doesn’t suit your travel
plans? Medford, Oregon? Arcata, California? Portland, Oregon? Or
maybe all the way to the Bay Area. Looks like 40% of the potential air
traffic out of the County already has made that choice. Is there a
solution for what ails the BCRAA? Certainly, a longer runway, service to
SFO and Sacramento on the new 44 passenger regional jets. Welcome to
the modern world of aviation. Better, less painful service to
destinations that provide greater options, with less expensive fares.
New and wider runways, not hampered by FAA funding guidelines. More
rigorous safety regulations surrounding the Air service and its crews.
Larger aircraft with an opportunity to grow enplanements and increase
economic development. Perhaps as Supervisor Howard is want to say,
“Lets be more pro active.” If grant funding to the tune of $9 million
could be found to merely refurbish the existing runways, perhaps a bit
more pro active thinking could land enough funding to really make a
difference at Jack McNamara Airport. No need to drive to Medford,
Arcata, Portland or the Bay Area; fast efficient regional jets to the
rescue with plenty of room to grow.
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