GTRA: Critical west-bound proposal

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Golden Triangle Regional Airport Director Mike Hainsey has a plan to help achieve westbound air-carrier service from the Columbus airport. He believes the plan is critical to the airport's long-term viability. In January, he will ask for $100,000 each from Columbus, Lowndes County, Starkville and Oktibbeha County; and $50,000 each from West Point and Clay County to help fund an incentive package essential to attracting an air carrier with a potential Dallas connection. (Routes to Houston or Denver are also possibilities.) The $500,000 is part of a $1.5-million package that includes a USDOT $750,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant. The remainder of the package includes $200,000 in gate fee waivers and $50,000 in marketing expenses that the airport will provide the carrier. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 12/20/14) Central Mississippi Note: The only airline serving GTRA currently is Delta, which operates three daily flights to and from Atlanta.