Larry Dovichi: Meet with Stockton, then approach airlines

Re “Modesto hires consultant for passenger flights” (Page 1B, March 3):

The $20,000 expense to re-establish commercial passenger flights to Modesto City airport is doomed to failure, unless the city will accept another airline like Sky West. Years ago, as the national sales manager of our local paper, I was involved with a citywide committee charged to meet with major air carriers. We met with air carriers like American, United and Delta. While their agencies were willing to listen, none could justify using our airport for flights into San Francisco or Los Angeles. Their reason: Modesto and Stockton are within “90 air miles of another airport.” With Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento within that limit, they would not utilize either city’s airport. Their suggestion offered was that Modesto and Stockton should work together to improve the possibility of a valley commitment when the airlines showed major growth in the number of passengers.

While we should not forgo the opportunity to seek improved air service, our first step should be to meet with Stockton folks, then ask the airlines directly if they still have such a “within 90 air mile no service” policy. The city is wasting another $20,000 along with the $75,000 allotted to the bicycle road race folks.

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Larry Dovichi: Meet with Stockton, then approach airlines."