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Where Dixie Begins 

SUPPORT LETTER FOR AIRPORT GRANT 

June 6. 2012 

The.Honorable Ray LaHood 

Sec,.tary 

Unitecf:States Department of Transportation 

raoo.New j~y. Ave. SE 

Wasbiugt(in D.C~ 

Dear Secretary LaHood; 

This letter is sent to you to indicate my support for the application of the new St. George 

Ai.-port for a grant in che 2012 Small Community Air Service . Development PrO(l'~m. The 

City oiSt. George opene(l a new repla~ment airpc:irtin·January of2011 .and the ~~poll8C of 

the local travelers has been outatandiQg. To allow St. George better access to the Nationa,l 

TranttpOrtation system, I aun gupporting the application of St. Oeo.-ge Airport ·in t~ Small 

Community Air Service Dttvelopment Program for a grant to support new nonstop jet 

serVice' between St. George and Denver International Airport. 

The aidines have told the community that they need an incentive progr_am that wiU include 

a rovenue guarantee, and fund!i for marketing. To meet. this request. the City of St. George 

and the new St. George ·Regional Airport are requesting a grant of $550,000 with a local 

contribution and ticket purchase program of $300,000 as an incentive for new air service at 

our new Airport. 

Currently, the Airport has nonstop service by Sky West with five daily flights to Salt .Lake 

City and one daily flight to Los Angel~s International Airport. Recent studies show that 

overall passenger demand for St. George is quite large but over 80% of tho pnssengers in 

the St. George market nren Me using other airports. There is a strong local demand for air 

service to the Midwest. the East, the Southwest. and the Southeast as well as flights to 

Europe. New nonstop flight-s to Denver can meet this demand. 

Sky West Airlines hns cxpt'essed ~he most interest nt this time and could provide nonstop 

service with regional jel~Jh·craft to Denver. Sky West has requested an incentive pa'*age 

that includes n revenue guamntee, local advertising and marketing, n pre·purchnse ticket 

program by local but~inesRes. and an inbound tour program. The initial service would 

include one daily round trip flight between St. George and Denver with 50 sent CRJ-200 

aircraft. 

U1 North 100 East • Washmgton City. Utah 84780 • Ph: (435} 656-6300 • Fax <435}656·6370 • wastungtonctty.org 

Mayor. Kf!nneth F Nftilson City Manager Ro~or Cmt1:r 

Council Membet's \jill Hudson • Thad D !::loeunHIIer • Kroos Stahelt • Ronald w. Truman • Jell Turek 

510-120621-012 
The new nonstop service to and &om Denver be a great help in the conUDued eff'ort to 

attn~ more bU8bJ.eaa to the St. George area. It wlU also make St. Oeorp aoceesible to the 

~~-~~ ~t. The manJ NatiOnal Parks near·st. George a~ major a~cdone Cor " -ielte...,at;i_onal tourlat market and this new nonstop flight should be very populu. 

Thtulk (ptyour attention to thit important l1HIU.. I eitlCereb' end9~_ ~~ appU~tion 

u.4 -bQpe ~ yo~ . wUl CJiw full and -fair CICmlidoration to the City. ot St. Qeo.p u.a St. 

George MwUCip~lAirport application eonaiatent with all relevant rules and reauliltions. 

B~-· ----------- Mayor . W.uhington City 

510-120621-012 
,June 7, :w 12 

The Honorf\blc Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

Unit1.1d States Deparlment of Transportation 

1200 New ,Jersey Ave. SE 

\Vashington D.C. 

Dear Secretm·y LaHood: 

I am writing you on behalf of the City of St. George to express appreciation for your <!ffi:>rts 

to make tho St. George Municipal Aiq>ort a reality and to indicate my support for the 

application for a grant in the 2012 Small Comnnmity Air Service Development Program. 

Since it's opening in Januat-y 201 J the ai1·pm-t has seen increased use of nearly 20 percent: 

when compared to the former airport. Those who m>e the airport have indicated a need for 

othe1· destinatiol18 aside from those we currently service. To allow St. George t1·avelers 

better access to the national transportation ~ysteru, l am supporting the application of St. 

George Airport in the Small Community Air Service Uevclopment Program fo1· a grant to 

support new nonstop jet service between St. George and Denver International Aiq>ort. 

Over the courae of our negations 'vith a number of regional airline carriers, they have told 

the community that they need an incentive program that wiU include a revenue guarantee, 

and funds for marketing. To meet this request, the City of St. George is requesting a grant 

of $550,000 with a local contribution and ticket purchase program of saoo,ooo as an 

i.ncentive for new air service at out· new airport. 

Hecent air service market st-udies show that ovet·a.ll passenger demand for St. Geol'ge is 

quite large but more than 80% of the passengers in the St. George market area are using 

other airports, some as many as 300 miles away. In Southwestent Utah and surrounding 

region there is a strong demand for air service to the Midwest, tho East, the Southwest, and 

the Southeast as well as Hights to Europe. New nonstop flights to Denver can meet this 

demand. 

Sky West Airlines, head-quartered in St. George haa expressed the most interest at this 

time and could provide nonstop service with l'et,rional jet aircraft to Denver. SkyWest has 

requested an incentive package that includes a revcnu<~ guarantee. local advertising and 

marketing, a pre·purchasc ticket !H'ogrnm by local businesses, and an inbound tom· 

program. The initial ser.,·iee would inclttd(~ one daily l'Ound trip flight between St. George 

and Denver with a i>O seat CR.J·!WO aircraft. 

CITY OF ST GEORGE CITY MANAGER S!TY COUNCIL 

s 10-120621-016 
The new nonstop service to Denver would assist in the continued effort to attract more 

business to the St. George area. It will -also make St. George accessible to the international 

market. The four US National Parks near St. George are major attractions for the 

international tourist market and this new nonstop flight will likely be very popular. 

I would like to express my gratitude for your careful consideration in this lllatter. I whole 

heartedly support this effQrl to obtain a Small Co1J1munity Air Service development Grant 

and am available should you have any questions regarding this letter or our efforts to 

improve transportation options to our beautiful community. 

Sincerely. 

Daniel D. McArthur 

Mayor 

510-120621-016