Efforts to find additional commercial air service for the Grand Forks Airport took another step forward this week.
The Air Service Expansion Committee has selected a consulting firm to help generate data needed to lobby airlines for additional flights to the GFK. The financial terms of the contract with with the Meehan Aviation Group are still being negotiated.
Mayor Brandon Bochenski told council members Monday that two firms were interviewed and they both shared the same perspective. “The main takeaway I got was that we are underserved and the prices are too high here.”
Bochenski says the goal is to secure an air service grant to entice carriers to look at Grand Forks. “Federal funding with local funds to basically guarantee minimum revenue which wouldn’t be used if people are using the flight.”
The Airport Commission is also collecting data for the push.
Recent studies suggest the local airport is only capturing 47% of potential travelers