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West Lafayette
,
Ind.
– November 10, 2009 – Is commercial air service at
Purdue
Airport
a possibility? Community leaders are considering pursuing it, but before they can attract an airline, they need data to show the market would support it.
To determine local interest, the three local governments,
Purdue
University
and Greater Lafayette Commerce are teaming up to fund a $27,500 survey and study. The work will be done by the
Indianapolis
office of Eugene, Oregon-headquartered Sixel Consulting Group Inc., which specializes in helping airports attract new service. The study report is expected in early 2010.
E-mails requesting survey participation will be sent by Greater Lafayette Commerce. “These will be going out soon. Watch for them, open them and please respond,” President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Seaman said at a news conference at
Purdue
Airport
on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“It’s important to identify our community needs and interests and do what we can to position ourselves for future jobs and growth,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “One key may be local commercial airline service. This study will help us determine our next step.”
The last time the
Purdue
Airport
offered commercial airline service was in 2004, when Corporation Airlines, doing business as American Connected, ended its service to and from
St.
Louis
, said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis. “Then, about 100 companies operated in the
Purdue
Research
Park
. Today, more than 160 companies are based in the park, including Butler International, EDS and Dow AgroSciences. That growth could indicate a great demand for local commercial flights,” Dennis said. “We want to find out.”
The study is a wise move, said Tippecanoe County Commissioner John Knochel. “It will give us solid information rather than conjecture. It will help us determine if our market can support commercial service. If it does, we will pursue a regional air carrier that utilizes the new regional jets seating 50 passengers.” Initially, the community would consider seeking a carrier that would provide flights to and from
Chicago
’s O’Hare Airport and perhaps to the
Washington
D.C.
area.
Noting
Purdue
Airport
’s longevity—it was the first university-based airport in the
U.S.
when it opened in 1930 and has hosted such famed pilots as Amelia Earhart, Purdue University Executive Vice President Al Diaz said even without commercial flights the airport is a busy spot.
“Purdue
Airport
is the second-busiest airport in
Indiana
, after
Indianapolis
, with 110,000 takeoffs and landings annually, including those associated with Purdue’s Aviation Technology program,” he said. “Since that last commercial flight in 2004, Purdue’s faculty numbers have increased. In 2004,
Discovery
Park
was just beginning, and now it’s home to dozens of centers and labs. And global connections in education and industry have increased considerably in the last five years.”
With some improvements to meet new safety regulations, “the
Purdue
Airport
could accommodate the new regional jets,” Diaz said. “Is commercial service again a viable option locally? We want to know. That’s why we’re proceeding with this professional study.”
