August 27, 2010 

An Integrated Program of New Service Development via: 

Start-Up Cost Offsets, Advertising/Marketing, and Revenue Guarantees 

 In Support of New Scheduled Air Service to/from Boston 

Sponsor: Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport 

 Auburn-Lewiston, Maine 

 Rick Cloutier, Airport Director 

 Congressional Code: ME-002 

 Dun & Bradstreet Number: 093631935 

AUBURN-LEWISTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, MAINE

Proposal Under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Docket: DOT-OST-2010-0124

Before the Office of the Secretary of Transportation 

US Department of Transportation
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page 

Introductory Letters of Support 3 

Summary Information 6 

Introduction 9 

Primary Objectives of Proposal 10 

Executive Summary 11 

Detailed Explanation of Proposal 16 

Expected Results 19 

Letters of Support 23 

Potential for Air Service 32 

Air Service Deficiencies 36 

Extenuating Factors Affecting Air Service 38 

Availability of Alternate Airports 41 

Use of Local/Federal Funds 42 

Public/Private Partnerships 43 

Implementation Timeline 45 

Air Service Advisory Groups 46 

Local Air Service Development Efforts 47 

In-kind Services from the Community 48 

Performance Measures 49 

Legal Sponsor 50 

Financial Controls 51 

Return on Investment 52 

DOT Exit Strategy 53 

Alternate Plan 54 

Airport Information 55 

Community Profile 56 

Conclusions 57 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 3

INTRODUCTORY LETTERS OF SUPPORT 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 4
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 5
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 6

SUMMARY INFORMATION 

Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0124 

A. Applicant Information 

 Not a Consortium Community now receives EAS subsidy 

 Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium 

 Community previously received a Small Community Grant 

 If previous recipient, date of Grant: ________________________________ 

 expiration date of Grant: _______________________ 

B. Public/Private Partnership

Public: 

1. Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport 

2. City of Lewiston 

3. City of Auburn 

4. Androscoggin County 

5. Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) 

Private: 

 

1. Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce 

2. Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council 

3. Bates College 

4. L/A Arts 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 7

C. Project Proposal 

 Marketing Upgrade Aircraft New Route 

 Personnel Increased Frequency Low Fare Service 

 Travel Bank Service Restoration Subsidy 

 Surface Transportation Regional Service Other (Specify) 

 Revenue Guarantee Launch New Carrier 

 Start Up Cost Offset First Competitive Service 

 Study Secure Additional Carrier 

D. Existing Landing Aids at Airport

 Full ILS Outer/Middle Marker Published Instrument Approach 

 Localizer Other:

E. Project Cost 

1. Federal amount requested: $ 500,000 

2. State cash financial contribution: $ 0

3. Local cash financial contribution: $ 50,000

 3a. Airport cash funds: $ 25,000

 3b. Non-Airport cash funds: $ 25,000 

 3c. Total local cash funds: $ 50,000

4. TOTAL CASH FUNDING: $ 550,000

5. Local funds contributed from already existing

Programs of projects included in line 3c: $ 0

6. Local funds contributed from new commitments 

Or new resources included in line 3c: $ 50,000

7. Airport In-Kind contribution: $ Various

Description: Fee waivers: One year without landing and terminal fees

8. Other In-Kind contribution: $ Various

Description: Advertising and marketing match money

9. TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION: $ Undetermined

10. TOTAL PROJECT COST: $ 550,000
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 8

F. Enplanements at Airport

 2000: 0 

2001: 0 

 2002: 0

 2003: 0

 2004: 0

 2005: 0

 2006: 0

 2007: 0

 2008: 0 

2009: 0 

G. Is Application Subject to Review by State Under Executive Order 12372 Process?

 This application was made available to the State on ______. 

 Program is subject to review, but has not been selected by the State. 

 Program is not covered. 

H. Is Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt? 

 No 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 9

INTRODUCTION 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is at the center of the largest area in the states of Maine, 

New Hampshire, and Vermont with no current scheduled air service. The Airport’s catchment 

area is home to almost 300,000 people, and is an hour’s drive away – on a toll road – from its 

nearest access point to the national air transportation system. 

Two years ago, city leaders in both Auburn and Lewiston came together with the Airport, with 

the idea of bringing local air service to the region for the first time in more than 20 years. They 

realized this air service would be the key to continued economic development. One City leader 

went as far as to say the whole future of the community rests on the ability to bring an air carrier 

to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. 

The Airport commissioned a wide-scale market research project. An August 2010 update to the 

study shows that residents of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport catchment area currently 

take 455,000 annual airline trips. The study is conclusive: there is 

sufficient local demand to support a local airline. 

In order to provide Auburn-Lewiston with its first access to the 

national air transportation system, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal 

Airport must work to overcome the challenge of being an 

unproven and currently unserved market. This challenge is greater than most realize, due to the 

fact airline modeling software relies on historical data to produce conclusions about how future 

service will perform. With no historical data, Auburn-Lewiston does not forecast – at all. 

With this reality in mind, the Airport must find a partner in the Department of Transportation for 

local air service to become a reality. The Airport believes the right kind of new service can help 

grow the region’s economy, and can compliment current service at Portland. The numbers 

show there is sufficient local support for air service. Now the community just needs a partner in 

the Small Community Air Service Development Program, developing a risk mitigation program in 

support of a new airline. This risk mitigation will include both local and federal funding sources, 

offering a revenue guarantee to a carrier willing to take a risk in the Auburn-Lewiston market. 

The best option for local air service will be a route that is not currently offered at Portland’s 

Jetport, but to a northeast hub, connecting Auburn-Lewiston’s biggest demand sources. This 

best option is service to Boston – service that can become a reality with federal support.

“Residents... currently 

take 455,000 annual 

airline trips...” 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 10

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF PROPOSAL 

Objectives for Program: 

 Bring commercial air service to Auburn-Lewiston 

 Provide sufficient air service for a large section of Maine without current service 

 Allow for convenient worldwide connections 

 Connect Auburn-Lewiston to the nation air transportation system 

 Decrease inefficient and expensive leakage to Portland 

Means to Achieve Objectives: 

 Recruit an airline to Auburn-Lewiston to provide service on a route to Boston, or 

on a route to another major northeast hub 

 Provide incentives to ensure success on the new route 

 Develop a comprehensive local marketing campaign to increase awareness 

about local air service in the Auburn-Lewiston market 

Course of Action to Support Means: 

 Provide a new carrier with start-up cost offsets 

 Make a revenue guarantee available to the new carrier 

 Initiate a marketing and advertising campaign in the region to increase 

awareness about service and to ensure travelers use locally provided service 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 11

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has the potential to serve as a more efficient, and better 

positioned, gateway for much of the central section of Maine – all the way from the Atlantic 

coast to the mountains in the north. Auburn-Lewiston is a hub for the new economy, with large 

recent investments from companies such as Deutsch Lufthansa, TD Banknorth, Procter and 

Gamble, LL Bean, Nestle, and General Electric. But for too long – more than 20 years – the 

Auburn-Lewiston metropolitan area has been without access to the national air transportation 

system. The only access the region now has to air service is at Portland, which lies an hour’s drive 

away on a tollway. 

The immediate Auburn-Lewiston 

catchment area includes only the area 

where the local airport would be a better 

option than any other commercially 

served airports. This area doesn’t include 

anyone more than a 45 minute drive from 

the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport 

(see Figure 1). 

As of the latest US Census estimates, 

168,000 people lived in the AuburnLewiston Municipal Airport immediate 

catchment area (see Figure 1). The 

catchment area has grown by 4.1% since 

2000. This growth rate outpaced much of 

the rest of the northeast for the same 

period. 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport 

also has the potential to be the major 

gateway to a much larger section of east central Maine – all the way to the Canadian border. 

This extended catchment area includes all the communities from Bath in the south, along the 

coast, to the Canadian border (see Figure 2). This catchment area follows the natural cultural 

connections of this section of Maine, and the current roadway system means that all airline 

FIGURE 1: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport’s

Immediate catchment area
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 12

passengers from this area are current driving right past the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport to 

get on a toll road to access air service in Portland. 

As of the latest US Census estimates, 278,000 people lived in the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal 

Airport extended catchment area (see Figure 

2). The extended catchment area has grown 

by 3.5% since 2000. This growth rate added 

9,730 people to the area in the last nine 

years.

The population of the region is sufficient to 

support local air service. Many other similarly 

sized markets throughout the US support 

current air service. Despite this selling point, 

the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has 

been unable to recruit and retain significant 

air service due to the proximity of Portland’s 

Jetport. It will take some kind of risk 

mitigation to convince an airline the local 

Auburn-Lewiston travelers will forgo the drive 

to Portland and use locally provided service 

instead. 

With local community support, and a desire 

by the City Councils in both Auburn and 

Lewiston to support local air service, the 

Airport embarked upon an in-depth market 

study process. The study found that the 

Auburn-Lewiston area makes up more than 28% of the current Portland Jetport catchment area 

(see Figure 3). 

Auburn-Lewiston’s extended catchment area is home to a large portion of the region’s 

population. Moreover, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport would serve as a better access 

point for to the national air transportation system for almost all the residents of its catchment 

area. 

FIGURE 2: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport’s

Extended catchment area
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 13

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport’s extended catchment area population, of 278,200, 

makes up 28% of the region’s total population – a larger share than either of the current served 

airports in Augusta or Rockland (see Figure 4). Augusta makes up just 16% of the regional 

population, while Rockland is even smaller, with 

just 10% of the region’s population. The case 

can be made that there is more of a market for 

local air service in Auburn-Lewiston than there is 

in either Augusta or Rockland – both of which 

currently have local air service. 

The Portland catchment area still makes up the 

larger part of the region’s population, with 

461,700 residents, or a 47% share of the regional 

population (see Figure 4). However, it can be 

argued that the residents of the larger region 

would be better served if air service were split 

between Portland and Auburn-Lewiston, 

reducing the amount of time spent on local 

tollways, and increasing overall access to the 

national air transportation system. 

The Airport’s most recent market recent study 

pulled a sample of more than 7,000 local 

tickets. When meshed with US Department of Transportation data from the other airports in the 

region, it showed the Auburn-Lewiston extended catchment area produces more than 455,000 

annual passengers, which equals 596 

passengers per day each way (see 

Figure 5). The study showed more 

than 75% of those passengers 

currently fly from Portland 

International Jetport – the closest 

airport with current air service. 

FIGURE 3: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport’s

Position in the region

FIGURE 4: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport’s

Share of the regional population
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 14

Orlando ranks as the Auburn-Lewiston area’s top passenger market, as determined by a recent 

update to the Airport’s study, with more than 33,000 annual passengers, or 45.6 passengers per 

day each way (see Figure 5). Other top passenger markets include Baltimore, with 38.2 

passengers per day each way; New York Kennedy, with 32.8 passengers per day each way; 

New York LaGuardia, with 20.1 passengers per day each way; and Atlanta, with 23.5 passengers 

per day each way. 

While Boston doesn’t appear as one of the Auburn-Lewiston market’s top origin and destination 

cities in the study’s analysis, that doesn’t mean there isn’t demand for travel. There is no current 

non-stop air service between Portland and Boston, which makes the trip almost impossible by air 

from the Auburn-Lewiston and Portland areas. The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport believes 

33,274

27,864

23,976

17,127

14,845

14,688

14,496

14,048

12,581

11,777

8,989

8,848

8,431

7,944

7,375

7,105

6,616

6,521

6,419

6,262

6,215

5,911

5,738

5,473

5,146

45.6

38.2

32.8

23.5

20.3

20.1

19.9

19.2

17.2

16.1

12.3

12.1

11.5

10.9

10.1

9.7

9.1

8.9

8.8

8.6

8.5

8.1

7.9

7.5

7.0

0.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 15,000.00 20,000.00 25,000.00 30,000.00

Orlando

Baltimore

New York Kennedy

Atlanta

Tampa

New York LaGuardia

Philadelphia

Washington National

Chicago O'Hare

Charlotte

Newark

Ft. Lauderdale

Denver

Ft. Myers

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Raleigh-Durham

Seattle

Jacksonville

Las Vegas

Washington Dulles

Phoenix

West Palm Beach

San Diego

Pittsburgh

Annual Passengers 

PDEW

FIGURE 5: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport’s

Top True Markets, Updated August 2010
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 15

Boston service, offered at LEW, would provide complementary service to that offered in 

Portland, thus improving air service for the whole region, and not just for Auburn-Lewiston. 

The Airport also believes almost all travelers from the Auburn-Lewiston and Portland areas 

headed to Boston right now travel by car, even though the trip takes more than three hours, not 

taking into account rush hour traffic. A non-stop service 

from Auburn-Lewiston to Boston would draw many 

passengers off the road, and into the air, with people from 

as far away as Portland using the Auburn-Lewiston 

Municipal Airport to begin their journeys. 

Service from Auburn-Lewiston to Boston also serves another 

purpose – to best connect Auburn-Lewiston passengers with 

their final, one-stop destinations. Of Auburn-Lewiston’s top 25 markets identified by its latest 

study, 17 are on the east coast (see Figure 5). If Auburn-Lewiston is to have its own air service, 

and that service is to be successful, it must – first and foremost – connect to as many east coast 

destinations as possible. Boston does exactly this, especially with a service on a carrier with 

wide-ranging interline and codeshare agreements. Boston’s current service connects to 24 of 

Auburn-Lewiston’s top 25 projected passenger markets. 

With this reality in mind, the Airport must find a partner in the Department of Transportation for 

local air service to become a reality. The Airport believes the right kind of new service can help 

grow the region’s economy, and can compliment current service at Portland. The numbers 

show there is sufficient local support for air service. Now the community just needs a partner in 

the Small Community Air Service Development Program. 

 

“The Airport must find a 

partner in the Department of 

Transportation for local air 

service to become a reality.” 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 16

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF PROPOSAL 

In order to provide Auburn-Lewiston with its first access to the national air transportation system, 

the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport must work to overcome the challenge of being an 

unproven and currently unserved market. This challenge is greater than most realize, due to the 

fact airline modeling software relies on historical data to produce conclusions about how future 

service will perform. With no historical data, Auburn-Lewiston does not forecast – at all. 

The Airport, and the community, has invested in an air service study and in an in-depth look at 

the potential for successful local air service. Now, armed with good data, it has begun the 

process of meeting with airlines. Those airlines have one 

message: they must see some kind of risk mitigation and 

revenue guarantee program if they’re going to take a 

chance on a market with no recent historical air service. 

The Airport proposes to offer Grant funding, in the form of 

start-up cost abatements, fee waivers, marketing 

support, and revenue guarantees to Cape Air for at least 

three daily flights to Boston (see Figure 6). This service is 

not duplicated at Portland, and offers connectivity to the 

widest possible collection of interline destinations. 

The route from Auburn-Lewiston to Boston is short, can be 

served at low cost, and requires a much smaller 

investment than other service options with aircraft up to 

and including regional jets. The LEW-BOS route covers 

122 miles, and could be flown by a 9-seat Cape Air 

Cessna 402 twin-engine aircraft, with an average flying 

time of 30 minutes at an average groundspeed of 250 

miles per hour.

The Airport proposes the flights be timed to meet the morning outbound bank at Boston on 

Cape Air’s codeshare airlines, jetBlue and Continental, and all other interline carriers. The 

service would connect to omni-directional destinations from the hub. The Airport also proposes 

a late evening return, connecting those same cities back into Auburn-Lewiston during the last 

bank of the night (see Figure 7).

Boston

Auburn-Lewiston

FIGURE 6: The Proposed Auburn‐Lewiston

To Boston Route
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 17

Cape Air service from Auburn-Lewiston to Boston would open 55 one-stop destinations over the 

Boston hub. Flights timed on the 

proposed schedule would connect 

to 24 of Auburn-Lewiston’s top 25 

identified destinations from the 

Airport’s study (see Figure 8). 

Moreover, there are multiple 

options for air service to Boston. 

Should Cape Air not be 

interested in serving the route, or 

should the community decide to 

pursue service on a larger aircraft 

by raising more local money for 

the project, Auburn-Lewiston 

could work with Colgan Air for the launch of service on the route. Colgan has operations 

throughout the northeast from Boston on 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. These aircraft would also be 

well-suited for the 

Auburn-Lewiston – 

Boston route, and 

the flight times would 

not change 

appreciably by 

changing the carrier 

and aircraft type. It 

is also likely most 

connections beyond 

Boston would remain 

unchanged with 

either airline 

operating the 

service.

9000 BOS-LEW 9:15AM 10;05AM VARIOUS

9002 BOS-LEW 4:00PM 4:50PM VARIOUS

9004 BOS-LEW 9:30PM 10:20PM VARIOUS

122 Miles Block Time: 0:50 Flight Time: 0:30

Flight Number Routing Departs Arrives Aircraft

9001 LEW-BOS 6:30AM 7:20AM VARIOUS

9003 LEW-BOS 10:30AM 11:20AM VARIOUS

9005 LEW-BOS 5:15PM 6:05PM VARIOUS

122 Miles Block Time: 0:50 Flight Time: 0:30

Flight Number Routing Departs Arrives Aircraft

FIGURE 7: The Proposed Auburn‐Lewiston

To Boston Flight Schedule

FIGURE 8: Connections Beyond Boston

On Cape Air
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 18

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport proposes that a relatively small portion of the cost of 

starting the new service be supported up-front with federal funds from the Small Community Air 

Service Development Program. Of the total project cost of $550,000, only $50,000 will be used 

for marketing and advertising projects. Another $50,000 will be used to cover start-up costs for 

the airline entering the market. The federal share of this project will be $500,000, of which 

$450,000 will be used as a revenue guarantee. 

The Airport projects that the bulk of the grant money be available to provide insurance in case 

the new carrier needs help getting through its first full year of service in Auburn-Lewiston. With 

demand for the service in the Auburn-Lewiston market, the Airport projects the new flights will be 

profitable in their second year of operation. However, the Airport expects the new carrier to 

incur some losses at the launch of service, as the 

market becomes more accustomed to having local air 

service, and as leakage slowly decreases. 

The objective of the proposal is clear. The AuburnLewiston Municipal Airport seeks its first access to the 

national air transportation system in more than 20 years. 

The community has identified air service as its top 

economic development priority. But in order to 

achieve its goal, it will have to have a partnership with the DOT in the form of the Small 

Community Air Service Development Program. 

If, for some unforeseen reason, service is not commenced in a timely manner by either Cape Air 

or Colgan Air on the Boston route, the Airport proposes to use federal grant money awarded 

under the Small Community Air Service Development Program to recruit another carrier 

interested in beginning service to the community, as long as that carrier provides access to a 

hub. Among the additional target airlines would be a United Express carrier with service to the 

Washington Dulles hub, a Continental Connection carrier with service to the Newark hub, a US 

Airways Express carrier with service to the Philadelphia hub, or a Delta Connection carrier with 

service to the New York Kennedy hub. All of these hubs can connect Auburn-Lewiston with most 

of its passenger demand to cities on the east coast. 

“The Auburn-Lewiston 

Municipal Airport seeks its first 

access to the national air 

transportation system in more 

than 20 years.” 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 19

EXPECTED RESULTS 

Route Specific Data: Auburn-Lewiston – Boston 

The Auburn-Lewiston market is estimated to currently generate 622 origin and destination 

passengers per day each way to destinations that naturally connect over Boston on current 

service. It is believed these passengers are currently flying out of other airports in the region – 

with as much as 75% flying from Portland. The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport’s market study 

estimates the catchment area currently produces 455,008 total origin and destination 

passengers that would flow over Boston as of the year ended first quarter 2010 (see Figure 9). 

In all, the market study shows the Auburn-Lewiston – Boston route has the potential to capture 

78% of the current passengers flying in and out of Auburn-Lewiston (see Figure 9). These are 

current passengers, flying from other airports, not “generated” passengers expected to be 

created with new local air service. At the same time, flights flowing to destinations over Boston 

could capture 68% of the current revenue generated in the Auburn-Lewiston market. 

It is estimated that markets flowing over Boston to current non-stop destinations could capture a 

portion of the $49.9 million in annual airline revenue the Auburn-Lewiston market generates to 

Boston 

78%

Other 

Hubs 22%

Boston 

68%

Other 

Hubs 32%

Auburn-Lewiston O&D Revenue $73,860,360 100%

Revenue Flowing Over Boston $49,917,930 68%

Auburn-Lewiston O&D Passengers 454,087 100%

Passengers Flowing Over Boston 354,591 78%

FIGURE 9: Auburn‐Lewiston Passengers and Revenue Flowing Over

Boston On Cape Air and Codeshare Airlines, YE1Q10
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 20

those cities, or some of the $68,381 in revenue per day each way (RDEW) to and from AuburnLewiston (see Figure 9). 

With multiple Cape Air interlining airlines serving Boston, to 55 non-stop destinations, flights 

between Auburn-Lewiston and Boston have potential to capture large portions of traffic in 24 of 

Auburn-Lewiston’s 25 largest origin and destination markets. Boston is especially well positioned 

to capture traffic traveling to the east coast, where most Auburn-Lewiston passengers have 

been demonstrated to travel – including large markets such as Orlando, which is estimated to 

generate 45.6 passengers per day each way (PDEW) to and from Auburn-Lewiston; 

Baltimore/Washington, which is estimated to generate 65.9 PDEW; New York/Newark, which is 

estimated to generate 65.3 PDEW; South Florida, which is estimated to generate 23.8 PDEW; and 

Atlanta, which is estimated to generate 23.5 PDEW (see Figure 10). 

48,127

47,653

33,274

17,378

17,127

14,845

14,496

12,770

11,777

9,419

9,327

8,431

7,944

6,615

6,521

6,419

6,262

5,911

5,473

5,253

65.9

65.3

45.6

23.8

23.5

20.3

19.9

17.5

16.1

12.9

12.8

11.5

10.9

9.1

8.9

8.8

8.6

8.1

7.5

7.2

0.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 15,000.00 20,000.00 25,000.00 30,000.00 35,000.00 40,000.00 45,000.00

Washington/Baltimore - 1

New York/Newark - 2

Orlando/Sanford Area - 3

South Florida Area - 4

Atlanta - 5

West Florida Area - 6

Philadelphia - 7

Chicago Area - 8

Charlotte - 9

Los Angeles Basin - 10

San Francisco Bay Area - 11

Denver- 12

Fort Myers - 13

Raleigh/Durham - 14

Seattle/Tacoma- 15

Jacksonville - 16

Las Vegas - 17

Phoenix/Mesa Area - 18

San Diego - 19

Houston Area - 20

Annual Passengers 

PDEW

FIGURE 10: Auburn‐Lewiston’s Top 20 Passenger Markets

Over Boston on Cape Air, YE1Q10
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 21

Auburn-Lewiston’s top 11 revenue markets that would flow over Boston each produce more 

than $2,000 in revenue per day each way (see Figure 11). The top potential Auburn-Lewiston 

revenue market over Boston is Washington/Baltimore, which produces more than $8,300 in 

revenue per day each way (RDEW) that is currently flying through other airports in the region. 

New York/Newark ranks as Auburn-Lewiston’s second-largest revenue market that an airline 

would access with service to the Boston hub, generating more than $6,600 in RDEW. 

The Airport believes there is sufficient passenger traffic and revenue that would flow over Boston 

to make local air service profitable. The airline serving the Auburn-Lewiston – Boston route would 

not be forced to offer rock-bottom fares to be competitive – even fares slightly higher than those 

$6,094,675

$4,824,819

$3,941,455

$2,554,002

$2,469,898

$2,439,330

$2,391,025

$1,769,642

$1,752,612

$1,727,146

$1,479,724

$1,445,666

$1,174,381

$1,092,050

$1,033,703

$1,022,379

$1,002,745

$939,168

$899,519

$856,992

$8,349

$6,609

$5,399

$3,499

$3,383

$3,342

$3,275

$2,424

$2,401

$2,366

$2,027

$1,980

$1,609

$1,496

$1,416

$1,401

$1,374

$1,287

$1,232

$1,174

0.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 3,000,000.00 4,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 6,000,000.00

Washington/Baltimore - 1

New York/Newark - 2

Orlando/Sanford Area - 3

Atlanta - 4

Philadelphia - 5

South Florida Area - 6

Chicago Area - 7

Los Angeles Basin - 8

San Francisco Bay Area - 9

West Florida Area - 10

Charlotte - 11

Denver- 12

Seattle/Tacoma - 13

Fort Myers - 14

Las Vegas- 15

San Diego - 16

Phoenix/Mesa Area - 17

Minneapolis- 18

Houston Area - 19

Detroit - 20

Annual Passengers 

PDEW

FIGURE 11: Auburn‐Lewiston’s Top 20 Revenue Markets

Over Boston on Cape Air, YE1Q10
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 22

found in other nearby markets, such as Portland and Manchester, would be worth support for 

the convenience of local service for Auburn-Lewiston travelers. The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal 

Airport believes in the local market, and must develop a risk mitigation package to ensure an 

airline partner can enter the market without major up-front investments. 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 23

LETTERS OF SUPPORT 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 24
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 25
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 26
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 27
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 28
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 29
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 30
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 31
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 32

POTENTIAL FOR AIR SERVICE IN AUBURN-LEWISTON 

The Auburn-Lewiston area is at the center of the largest region in Maine without any commercial 

airline service. It is, in fact, much larger than many other areas in the State that have service, 

such as Rockland, Bar Harbor, and Augusta. The community believes in order to grow its 

economy – it is, after all, the fastest growing metropolitan area in the northeast – it will have to 

have commercial air service. 

With that in mind, The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport was charged with generating and 

developing credible information that could be used to evaluate current air service in the region 

and identify opportunities for local air service. The Airport’s Ticket Lift Survey/True Market Study 

provides objective information on air travel in the region that cannot be acquired economically 

from other sources. 

Air carriers spend very little time analyzing smaller markets, and specific information on smaller 

communities is limited. Ticket Lift Survey information provides objective background data for 

evaluating and analyzing service gaps and opportunities. The primary objective of the Ticket Lift 

Survey is to develop information on the travel 

patterns of local airline passengers that reside in 

the geographic area that would likely be served 

by the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. 

In order to estimate the size of the total market 

and the number of air passengers traveling to 

each destination, passenger leakage data 

normally is mathematically combined with U.S. 

Department of Transportation (DOT) airline report information. However, in the case of AuburnLewiston, where there is no local passenger market, Sixel Consulting Group, the firm hired to do 

the work, had to make further analyses. Portland, Augusta, and Rockland enplanement 

information was multiplied by Auburn-Lewiston’s share of the catchment area for all three 

airports, resulting in an estimate of local enplaned passengers. 

The percentage of total trips initiated locally is multiplied by the estimated Auburn-Lewiston 

enplanements to generate an estimate for locally originated passengers. This number is 

multiplied by each market’s share of traffic from the ticket lift to estimate local enplanements by 

destination. The ratio of local enplanements at Portland, Augusta, and Rockland, versus the 

number of trips generated to Portland, Augusta, and Rockland, is calculated and applied to 

“The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal 

Airport was charged with generating 

and developing credible information 

that could be used... to identify 

opportunities for local air service.” 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 33

each market pair. The sum of these two results provides an estimate of the total passenger 

volume generated between the Auburn-Lewiston area and each domestic and international 

market pair. 

The study results were updated in August 2010 in support of this application. The "true market" 

estimate for the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport for 2010 is approximately 455,000 passengers 

(enplaned plus deplaned). While this number represents the projected total number of 

passengers per year from the area, it does not necessarily indicate the total demand for local air 

service at LEW. It is assumed service at AuburnLewiston itself would capture only a small portion 

of the total number of potential passengers. 

Leakage occurs primarily because of service 

availability and pricing competition in the local 

community versus alternate, larger regional 

airports. While the airport will continue to lose a 

share of its market due to competition, it is reasonable to expect passenger activity could 

increase significantly with local air service provided in Auburn-Lewiston. 

It must be noted, ticket lift data did not include any tickets booked directly through the 

Southwest Airlines website for travel to/from Manchester. It is believed that travel by AuburnLewiston area residents, on Southwest at Manchester, is underrepresented in this survey. It is also 

believed that this lack of true data from Southwest has caused the survey to under represent 

demand to/from leisure destinations, such as Orlando, from Auburn-Lewiston. 

Potential Passenger Traffic in Auburn-Lewiston 

The True Market Study found that the Auburn-Lewiston market is likely to produce as many as 

455,000 total origin and destination airline trips per year, or 623 passengers per day each way. 

While it is unlikely all of these passengers would use the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, it is 

likely the level of passenger traffic in the market will support commercial air service. Other 

highlights of the study include: 

“The ‘true market’ estimate for 

the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal 

Airport for 2010 is approximately 

455,000 passengers.” 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 34

• The LEW catchment area is projected to produce a total of $90 million in annual airline 

revenue, or $123,300 in revenue per day each way. 

• 15 of Auburn-Lewiston’s top 20 projected true passenger markets are located on the east 

coast. 

• 13 of Auburn-Lewiston’s top 20 projected true revenue markets are on the east coast. 

• Only 29% of current passengers from the Auburn-Lewiston catchment area fly non-stop to 

their destinations – 71% of passengers connect, at least once, in reaching their 

destination. 

Due to the distribution of the top destinations from the market, it is likely the most successful 

service will be to an east coast hub, connecting to most major destinations. Among other 

regional travel highlights from the study, it was found: 

• Almost three-quarters of projected passengers from the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal 

Airport (LEW) catchment area – 72% – fly to destinations on the east coast. 

• East coast passengers from the Auburn-Lewiston area represent a projected 351,000 trips 

per year, or 481 passengers per day each way. 

• More than two-thirds – 69% – of the projected airline revenue created in the AuburnLewiston catchment area goes to destinations on the east coast. 

• East coast revenue from the Auburn-Lewiston area represents a projected $62.3 million in 

airline ticket purchases per year, or $85,400 in revenue per day each way. 

• With such a high percentage of Auburn-Lewiston passengers and revenue flowing to 

destinations on the immediate east coast, it is essential that any air service to/from LEW 

be able to connect to each of these high volume destinations. 

• The most successful air service at Auburn-Lewiston will connect to a hub along the east 

coast – preferably in the northeast – that offers a wide range of one-stop destinations 

from New York to Florida. 

• Service to hubs not on the immediate east coast, or not in the northeast, will not be able 

to draw as many local Auburn-Lewiston passengers, as connections would require 

“backtracking.” 

The True Market Study shows that the Auburn-Lewiston area does produce significant travel 

demand – most of which is being captured by the Portland International Jetport. It is believed 

local air service, at LEW, would capture, at least, a small portion of this local traffic, providing a 

convenient alternative – especially for the region’s business travelers.
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 35

AIR SERVICE DEFICIENCIES IN AUBURN-LEWISTON 

With no current scheduled air service, or local access to the national air transportation system, 

Auburn-Lewiston area businesses, and travelers, are at a distinct disadvantage when compared 

to other communities in the northeast. Moreover, when car travel and expense is taken into 

account for each trip, the cost of traveling for Auburn-Lewiston catchment area residents – while 

flying from other airports – is significantly higher than from other airport catchment areas in the 

northeast. 

Almost 75% of all passengers originating from the Auburn-Lewiston catchment area fly from the 

Portland International Jetport (see Figure 12). Roughly 18% of travelers from Auburn-Lewiston 

drive all the way to Boston’s Logan Airport to access the national air transportation system – a 

drive of three hours without traffic. All other airports account for the remainder of tickets sold to 

Auburn-Lewiston area travelers. 

Obviously, with no local air service, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport’s passenger leakage is 

100% (see Figure 12). Auburn-Lewiston’s competitive standing is greatly diminished within the 

northeast with no local air service. The drive to Portland isn’t quick – at about an hour. 

Moreover, the drive has to be made on a toll road, adding considerable time stopping at 

booths, not to mention considerable expense on a roundtrip. The drive to Boston’s airport is 

even more time consuming – at more than three hours, not taking rush hour traffic into account. 

FIGURE 12: Airport Used by Auburn‐Lewiston Passengers

Source: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport True Market Study

Portland, ME

75%

Boston, MA

18%

Manchester, NH

5%

Bangor, ME

1% All Others

1%
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 36

Auburn-Lewiston travelers are used to connecting flights at major hubs. A somewhat surprising 

statistic from the Airport’s recent market study is the fact that, despite non-stop flight options in 

Boston, very few 

Auburn - Lewiston 

passengers drive to 

Boston to get those 

non-stops. The study 

shows Auburn-Lewiston 

passengers prefer to fly 

from an airport closer 

to home, even if that 

means they’ll have to 

spend more time in 

connecting airports 

(see Figure 13). 

While the largest proportion of Auburn-Lewiston passengers travel non-stop to their destinations, 

29.6%, that still means the majority, or 70.4%, connect at a hub on the way to their final 

destination (see Figure 13). This statistic illustrates the fact that non-stop convenience is not as 

important to Auburn-Lewiston travelers as is the convenience of being able to fly from an airport 

that is closer to home. 

The Airport’s market study also found that no one hub is significantly more popular than any 

other. While a larger proportion of Auburn-Lewiston passengers fly through the US Airways hub at 

Philadelphia, it still drew just 13.7% of the sample (see Figure 13). The only other hub gaining 

more than 5% of the sample of tickets was Detroit, with 7.4%. 

There were seven hubs that drew between 4% and 5% of Auburn-Lewiston passengers, 

according to the Airport’s market study (see Figure 13). Those hubs included United at 

Washington Dulles, Delta and jetBlue at New York Kennedy, US Airways at New York LaGuardia, 

US Airways at Washington National, United and American at Chicago O’Hare, Delta and AirTran 

at Atlanta, and Delta at Cincinnati. 

Non-stop

30%

Philadelphia, PA

14%

Detroit, MI

7%

Washington Dulles, DC

5%

New York Kennedy

5%

New York La Guardia

5%

Washington National, DC

5%

Chicago O'Hare, IL

4%

Atlanta, GA

4%

Cincinnati, OH

4%

New York Newark

4%

Others

13%

FIGURE 13: Connection Point for Auburn‐Lewiston Passengers

Source: Auburn‐Lewiston Municipal Airport True Market Study
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 37

In all, Auburn-Lewiston passengers bought tickets connecting through more than 15 different 

hubs during 2008 (see Figure 13). The fact that there is no preferred hub means that there is no 

preferred airline. This will help a new airline in building brand loyalty when it launches service at 

the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has designed this Grant-supported project to reduce the 

burden of connecting through multiple hubs, and to further reduce the distance that must be 

traveled to access the national air transportation system. The project eliminates a new airline’s 

barrier to entry by providing a revenue guarantee to cover losses in the start-up phase of the 

service. The Airport’s project also eliminates the carrier’s burden to pay landing fees, terminal 

rent, and parking fees for the first year of service. Additionally, with the Airport providing start-up 

cost offsets, that airline will not have to supply 

equipment – items including computers, signage, and 

ground handling vehicles will all be provided by the 

Airport. 

The Airport must develop aggressive incentive 

programs to recruit its first air service, and to reduce 

leakage to other airports. Leakage costs a community significant money – in time, wasted fuel, 

and wear and tear on personal and company vehicles. The Airport aims to eliminate these 

inefficiencies by adding airline service. 

 

“Leakage costs a community 

significant money... the Airport 

aims to eliminate... inefficiencies 

by adding airline service.” 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 38

EXTENUATING FACTORS AFFECTING AIR SERVICE 

A major extenuating factor affecting air service in the northeast, and throughout the country, 

has been the loss of available seats at airports with current service over the last two years. With 

the airlines in financial crisis mode, nearly every market has seen a loss of flights and seats – and 

airports in Maine have been no exception. 

While Auburn-Lewiston residents have no direct access to the national air transportation system, 

they rely on the air service at Portland, Maine, for mobility. But over the last two years, airlines 

have cut almost a third of Portland’s available seats. Since just the summer of 2009, Portland’s 

Jetport has lost an average of 10.7 flights per day each way - 20% of Portland’s total daily flights 

(see Figure 14). In that same time period, airlines have cut 1,074 daily departing seats from the 

Portland market, cutting Portland from 3,941 daily departing seats in the summer of 2009 to 2,867 

daily departing seats in April of 2010 – a loss of 27% of Portland’s available airline seats. 

3,941 3,926

3,460

3,326

2,915

2,663 2,596

2,380

2,670

2,867

3,223 3,309

2,634 2,682

2,097

1,921

1,675

1,810

2,154 2,215

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12 2010/01 2010/02 2010/03 2010/04

Available SDEW Onboard PDEW Flights Per DEW

52.6 52.3

46.9

45.5

42.4

39.8 38.8

35.7

40.3

41.9

FIGURE 14: Available Seats Per Day, Passengers Per Day, and Departures Per Day

At Portland Jetport (PWM), July 2009 – April 2010, Source: T100 Data
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 39

These seat cuts have a huge impact not only on Portland, itself, but also a large swath of Maine 

that has no current airline service. Auburn-Lewiston would serve as the access point to the 

national air transportation network for much of the area that is now forced to drive to Portland 

for service. In the last two years, it has become increasingly difficult to find available seats in 

Portland, as airlines have continued to cut. 

The average airline load factor at Portland – the percentage of seats filled on scheduled airline 

service – is up an average of five points since the same time last year. Between July of 2009 and 

April of 2010, Portland averaged a load factor over 70% in all but one month (see Figure 15). The 

average load factor since last summer at Portland has been 77.1% for all airlines. 

When load factors begin to top 70%, typically an airline will start to sell-out of seats on the 

heaviest travel days, such as Sunday, Monday, and Friday. This has likely been the case in 

Portland over the last year. For Auburn-Lewiston travelers, it has become increasingly difficult to 

find available airline seats on the most in-demand travel days. The Auburn-Lewiston area has 

not been adequately served by an airline for more than 20 years, but air service access has 

81.8%

84.3%

76.1%

80.6%

71.9% 72.1%

64.5%

76.0%

80.7%

77.2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

2009-07 2009-08 2009-09 2009-10 2009-11 2009-12 2010-01 2010-02 2010-03 2010-04

Load Factor

Average PWM Load Factor: 77.1%

FIGURE 15: Average Load Factor at Portland Jetport (PWM),  

July 2009 – April 2010, Source: T100 Data
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 40

become even more difficult in the last two years as Portland has had seats pulled, and as 

Portland’s load factors increase. The best argument for replacing these seats is to distribute a 

small number of seats to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, so that those better served by 

their local airport can avoid the drive and expensive of traveling to Portland first.
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 41

AVAILABILITY OF ALTERNATE AIRPORTS 

While the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport catchment area is surrounded by alternate airports, 

none of the alternate options are particularly convenient, and all have some cost barrier that 

travelers must overcome. The closest alternate airport to Auburn-Lewiston is Portland’s Jetport, 

however it lies an hour drive away on a toll road (see Figure 16). This situation requires 

passengers to pay tolls just to get to a point where they can access the national air 

transportation system. 

The major alternate to Auburn-Lewiston is Boston’s Logan Airport, which offers non-stops to 73 

cities around the world (see Figure 16). However, Logan is a three hour drive from AuburnLewiston, without hitting rush hour traffic. Very few Auburn-Lewiston passengers make the drive 

to Boston for this very reason – as Boston captures just 18% of Auburn-Lewiston travelers.

FIGURE 16: Alternate Airports in the  

Auburn‐Lewiston Region
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 42

USE OF LOCAL FEDERAL FUNDS 

Marketing and Advertising 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport proposes to spend $50,000 in funds on marketing and 

advertising promotions in support of new service. The goal is to capture local enplanements 

and usage through targeted regional campaigns. 

Revenue Guarantee 

The Airport proposes to make available at least $500,000 in funds for a revenue guarantee to the 

new carrier, to cover start-up losses that may occur during the first twelve months of service. 

Subject to negotiation, payments will be made to the new carrier quarterly, when income 

derived from passengers and cargo is less than agreed expenses on the route. Revenue 

generated that exceeds expenses will be carried forward and tapped before any grant funds 

are used. 

Startup Cost Offsets 

The Airport proposes to use a small portion of the funding provided under this proposal to pay for 

start-up costs in support of new service introductions. Money will be reimbursed to the new 

carrier, from the revenue guarantee portion of this proposal, as invoices are submitted detailing 

the work performed to offset the acquisition of necessary equipment to begin service (items 

include carts, tugs, power units, computer equipment, cabling, software, etc.). 

Additional Costs 

As part of this program, the Airport understands that additional expenses will be incurred, such 

as monitoring the results of the program and reporting those results back to the US DOT. In 

addition, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport expects to incur some expenses in the 

recruitment of a new airline. These additional costs will come from the revenue guarantee 

portion of the funding. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 43

PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS 

A number of local partners will be working with the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport to 

promote, support, and market the new service. Contacts will be made to all Auburn-Lewiston 

members of chambers of commerce and similar organizations, and those with an interest in 

growing the economic base of the community through local business growth, attraction of new 

businesses and the promotion of tourism and visitor traffic via the airport. 

Cities of Auburn and Lewiston 

The City Councils of both Auburn and Lewiston are some of the biggest supporters of bringing air 

service to the local Airport, as they realize how vital the Airport is to the growth of the entire 

region that it serves. As the joint owners and operators of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, 

City leaders continually work with to develop and support new service initiatives. The Cities also 

manage the Airport’s budget, and will oversee how the Small Community Air Service 

Development Grant is spent. 

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) 

The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) is the major government entity 

overseeing the cooperation of all cities and counties in the Auburn-Lewiston sphere of influence. 

AVCOG addresses issues of mutual concern for the region, in addition to satisfying federal and 

state planning/program mandates. The agency serves as a forum for planning/discussion of 

area wide issues, preparing regional plans and programs, serving as a regional agency for 

federal and state programs, and addressing other area-wide issues as mutually desired. 

AVCOG is also responsible for the development of an efficient and effective multi-modal 

transportation system for mobility and maximizing state and federal funding. AVCOG is an 

important public partner in the effort to bring air service to Auburn-Lewiston. 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 44

Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce 

The Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce is a totally independent non-profit 

corporation (not affiliated with government or any other agency) that is uniquely able to serve 

the needs of the business community in Auburn-Lewiston. The Chamber is dedicated to just one 

goal: the economic health of the area and the prosperity of its members. 

The Chamber’s philosophy is simple: more business is good for existing business and an attractive 

and viable city will attract more business activity. The Chamber also believes additional 

economic activity will benefit every business person and resident in the region. The Chamber’s 

work toward implementing this philosophy has been successful because of a powerful 

combination of active, motivated volunteer business leaders supported by a highly regarded 

professional staff. Together, the volunteer leaders and the professional staff do what no service 

club, government agency nor individual business could do: enhance and promote AuburnLewiston as a place to do business and enjoy life. Moreover, the Chamber believes enhanced 

air service is essential to the interconnectivity of businesses, and is an essential part of any 

community’s plan for economic growth.

Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council 

The Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council is a private partner in this application. The 

Growth Council provides a number of in-kind services. Growth Council funding will commit to a 

program of viral marketing through e-mail blasts to all members and word-of-mouth advertising. 

The Growth Council also contributes mailers to area businesses explaining the benefits of new 

and additional air service. The Growth Council will have a financial stake, by providing 

matching funds, for any new air service in the region.
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 45

IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE 

The proposed implementation timeline for the project assumes the Department of Transportation 

will award Small Community Grant Funding in December 2010. Once the award is announced, 

Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport will conduct additional airline meetings to secure a new 

service that is mutually beneficial. Based on airline planning lead times and the need for 

advance bookings, we assume the new carrier would not be able to begin service until at least 

March of 2012. 

The first three milestones on the Airport's timeline are to execute the grant agreement with the 

Department of Transportation, meet with prospective airlines to negotiate for service, and sign 

the minimum revenue guarantee agreement with the appropriate airline partner. Once service 

is announced and schedules are published, the Airport would begin marketing the new route 

and working with the new carrier to monitor advance bookings. The Airport will continue its 

marketing program and continue to work with the new carrier to monitor the route once service 

begins. The Airport would submit grant status reports on a quarterly basis to the Department 

throughout the proposed two year term of the minimum revenue guarantee. 

While the estimated dates are targets, it is possible service could be secured and launched on a 

more aggressive timeline once Grant funding is awarded. It is also possible that new service 

could slip to 2013 should an airline require additional risk mitigation, beyond that included in this 

proposal, from the community. 

Activity/Project Milestone Estimated Date

SCASD Grant Award Announcement December 2010

Executive Grant Agreement with DOT January 2011

Meet With Prospective Airlines February - June 2011

Negotiate Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) With Airline July/August 2011

Announce Service December 2011

Publish Schedule December 2011

Begin Marketing of New Route January 2012

Monitor Advance Bookings January - March 2012

Service Launch March 2012

MRG Available for Service March 2012 - March 2014

Monitor Route Performance March 2012 - March 2014

Submit Grant Status Reports to DOT Quarterly Q1 2011 - Q1 2014

Close Grant April 2014
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 46

AIR SERVICE ADVISORY GROUPS 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is governed by the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport 

Board of Directors. This committee is made up of a number of community leaders from different 

Auburn-Lewiston government bodies and major business organizations. The Airport Board of 

Directors oversaw the development of this grant application, and will oversee and administer 

the funds awarded. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 47

LOCAL AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS 

The administration of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has been extremely active in 

working to add air service to the community. As community leaders expressed their desire to do 

whatever it takes to being air carrier service to their local Airport, Airport leaders commissioned 

an air service study, and have since been meeting, one-on-one, with potential airlines. These 

meetings have included both Cape Air, and Colgan Air, both airlines specifically mentioned in 

this application. The Airport has also met with ExpressJet, Republic, and other regional carriers 

with major airline codeshares in the last four months. 

The next step in the Airport’s air service development program is the development of funding for 

a risk mitigation program. The Airport’s meetings with various airlines have yielded a specific 

plan for risk mitigation. This Small Community Air Service Development Grant is a key to that risk 

mitigation program. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 48

IN-KIND SERVICES FROM COMMUNITY 

The following organizations will help promote the new service through their various membership 

groups. There is no estimated value to these services. 

 City of Lewiston 

 City of Auburn 

 Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce 

 Androscoggin County 

 Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) 

 Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council 

 Bates College 

 L/A Arts 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 49

PERFORMANCE MEASURES 

The success of the program will be based on three variables. The first measure of success will be 

the recruitment and retention of an airline to provide new service. When new service is initiated, 

the first measure of success will be met. The Airport will judge the second measure of success by 

the number of enplanements. Finally, the third measure of success will be based on average 

airfares in the community. The measurement of enplanements will include a monthly 

comparison, once the program begins. The measurement of airfares will be derived from US 

DOT OD1A reports. 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 50

LEGAL SPONSOR 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is the legal sponsor responsible for administering the 

program. The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is a government entity. 

Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport 

80 Airport Drive 

Auburn, Maine 04210 

Rick Cloutier, Airport Director 

207.786.0631 

manager@flytome.com 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 51

FINANCIAL CONTROLS 

As the sponsor, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport will be the responsible party for all fiscal 

matters and DOT reporting requirements. The group is established as an Airport Board of 

Directors, which is a public governing body. As a public entity the DOT can be assured that 

proper financial controls are in place to guarantee that the DOT’s grant will be used in 

accordance with any subsequent agreement. The Airport understands that the grant is a 

reimbursable grant, meaning the Airport is responsible for program expenditures and will submit 

invoices to the DOT for reimbursement, based on a percentage of the total grant request. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 52

RETURN ON INVESTMENT 

The Airport has developed a cost effective and achievable strategy to add new service, 

increase enplanements, and lower airfares at the airport. The proposal uses proven methods of 

achieving air service improvements, allowing the DOT to be comfortable with choosing this 

proposal. The establishment of local competition by adding new airline service is in line with the 

major goal of the Small Community Air Service Development Program. 

Approximately $50,000 of the $550,000 in cash is committed to being spent. The remaining 

$500,000 in cash available for the revenue guarantee portion of the grant may never be 

expensed. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 53

DOT EXIT STRATEGY 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has developed this proposal as a one-time grant. While 

the initial startup costs will be paid for out of other airport funds, the advertising and marketing 

program will commence a few months before service starts and last for at least twelve months. 

The revenue guarantee program will also be in place for twelve months, with two additional 

twelve-month periods available for negotiation. It is projected that the service will be financially 

self-sustaining within the second twelve months of service. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 54

ALTERNATE PLAN 

If, for some unforeseen reason, service is not commenced in a timely manner by either Cape Air 

or Colgan Air on the Boston route, the Airport proposes to use federal grant money awarded 

under the Small Community Air Service Development Program to recruit another carrier 

interested in beginning service to the community, as long as that carrier provides access to a 

hub. Among the additional target airlines would be a United Express carrier with service to the 

Washington Dulles hub, a Continental Connection carrier with service to the Newark hub, a US 

Airways Express carrier with service to the Philadelphia hub, or a Delta Connection carrier with 

service to the New York Kennedy hub. All of these hubs can connect Auburn-Lewiston with most 

of its passenger demand to cities on the east coast. 

 
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 55

AIRPORT INFORMATION 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is located on 547 acres in Auburn, Maine. The airport 

supports local and regional general aviation, flight training, cargo, and a large volume of 

corporate activity. The Cites of Auburn and Lewiston own and operate the airport and it is 

strongly supported by the Androscoggin Valley County of Governments. The airport also has 200 

developable acres, a foreign trade zone and customs clearance at the inter-modal freight 

facility. 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has been in operation since 1935. Currently, The AuburnLewiston Municipal Airport handles regional jet-sized aircraft frequently, with hundreds of annual 

charters by area businesses, and by Bates College. 

The Airport features a main runway, 4-22, that is 5,001 feet 

in length, with a full, all-weather ILS approach. AuburnLewiston’s general aviation runway, 17-35, is 2,750 feet in 

length. The Airport has a brand new taxiway that is 

parallel to the main runway, certified to handle large 

jets. The Airport also has a brand new ramp, built for the 

Lufthansa Technik operation, which can handle virtually 

any kind of aircraft. The Airport can have its small, 

former air carrier terminal ready for new commercial 

airline service within months – including a TSA and rescue 

plan. 

FIGURE 17: Auburn‐Lewiston  

Municipal Airport
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport – Small Community Air Service Development Grant – August 2010 56

COMMUNITY PROFILE 

Half of the urban "Cities of the Androscoggin," Lewiston lies on the eastern banks of the 

Androscoggin River. An early manufacturing center, Lewiston still lives and breathes with the 

sights and sounds of modern productivity. Brimming with 

modern conveniences, Lewiston, and her sister town of 

Auburn, sit between the clean and natural settings of 

Maine's western lakes and mountains, and intermittent 

shorefront beaches and rocky coastlines. 

Auburn and Lewiston serve as a source of resources and 

entertainment not only for those coming into the state, 

but also for the local inhabitants, many of whom travel 

40 minutes to an hour and a half from the rural settings, 

for a taste of 21st century resources. 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport service area is 

home to almost 300,000 people. As of 2010, Lewiston-Auburn Metro Area's population itself is 

107,031 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 3.15 percent. The median 

household income is $45,455, but that income translated to a much higher purchasing power 

due to the low cost of living. The median home cost in Lewiston-Auburn Metro Area is $125,530. 

Compared to the rest of the country, Lewiston-Auburn Metro Area's cost of living is 7.40% lower 

than the U.S. average. 

Auburn-Lewiston has continually posted strong economic growth in the last decade, despite the 

lagging economy, with total job growth of 8.9% between 2000 and 2008. The Auburn-Lewiston 

area’s residents do not often drive long distances to access services, such as air transportation, 

as evidenced by the average commute time of just 7.3 minutes, and by the fact that 10% of 

residents bike or walk to work (the national average is 3%). Auburn-Lewiston residents spend an 

average of $6,300 on vacation each year. 
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What’s New in Auburn-Lewiston 

Auburn-Lewiston centers of excellence include health care, high-precision manufacturing, 

printing/graphics, transportation & logistics, and telecommunications. Nearly 50 percent of the 

state's population is located within a 30-mile radius of Auburn-Lewiston. The area is home to 

some of the state's most successful companies, including Tambrands (a Procter & Gamble 

company), L.L. Bean's Telemarketing Center, General Electric, Formed Fiber Technologies 

(Toyota), Elmet Technologies, TD Banknorth Operations Center, VIP Parts, Tires, & Service, Geiger, 

and a Wal-Mart Food Distribution Center. Auburn-Lewiston is home to the national office of the 

Forum Francophone des Affaires, an international trade group of French-speaking nations. 

Auburn-Lewiston is also home to the Maine International Trade Center. The Bates Mill Complex is 

at the heart of downtown Lewiston. Auburn-Lewiston is also home to four colleges including 

Bates College, which U.S. News and World Report rates one of the top liberal arts schools in the 

country, two world-class hospitals and a Foreign Trade Zone. 

o Auburn-Lewiston leads the state in economic development expansions and investments. 

Among the recent major development projects in the Twin Cities include the completion 

of Phase 2 of WalMart’s Food Distribution Center estimated at $40 million. In addition, a 

$24 million campus expansion at Bates College, a $7 million investment in back-office 

operations by TD Banknorth at the Bates Mill Complex, and a spate of restaurants and 

retail projects, like the $6.7 million Kohl’s store. 

o Lewiston-Auburn has made the top 100 list of Inc. Magazine’s “Best Places for Doing 

Business in America.”Inc. examined 274 population centers looking for such criteria as job 

creation and sustained growth. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, was ranked 38th in the “small 

cities” category. The article notes, “Our assumption is that job growth is the best measure 

of a region’s economic vitality especially as it applies to entrepreneurs. What’s more, 

strong job growth suggests that a region’s economy is expanding. That means new 

demand and new opportunities.” 
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o TD Banknorth, one of the area’s largest 

employers, expects to hire 250 more 

workers for its newest call center that 

opened in July 2010. The 250 workers taking calls Friday had moved recently to their new 

space in Lewiston. Officials said in July that they plan on doubling the number of workers 

at the call center in 2011. The new state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot facility is divided 

into four quadrants, each color-coded and dotted with computer-equipped work 

stations. Workers take incoming calls from customers needing assistance. Maine's 

governor and two U.S. senators, cheered the announcement of new jobs coming to 

Maine. TD Bank will have nearly 3,000 workers in Maine by 2011, with more than one-third 

of them working in the Twin Cities. They'll field roughly 25,000 calls a day, seven days a 

week. The bank is also community-minded as well, as evidenced by a recent $5,000 

donation presented to the local St. Mary's Food Pantry. “We have the capital and 

desire to grow here in Maine,” he said. The 

opening of the call center is a reflection of the 

growth of the bank's customer base,” said 

Bharat Masrani, president and CEO of TD Bank. 

“TD Bank has strong ties in Maine and were are 

committed to strengthening our presence here 

even more.” 

o In a global study comparing the costs of locating business operations, Lewiston fared 

better than any other New England community studied. KPMG International’s eightmonth project analyzed and compared 17 industry sectors in Canada, France, 

Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. 

Lewiston was ranked as having more of a cost advantage than its New England 

counterparts Boston; Burlington, Vermont; Hartford, Connecticut; and Providence, Rhode 

Island. 
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Auburn-Lewiston Economic Overview 

Auburn-Lewiston has become one of Maine's busiest distribution and logistics hubs. The area is 

served by the Saint Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad and northern New England's only double-stack 

freight container service, along with an intermodal transportation facility. Auburn became a U.S. 

Customs Port of Entry in 2002. In 2004, Auburn received approval to establish a Foreign Trade 

Zone encompassing 760 acres (3.1 km2). A number of distribution centers are located in the 

area, including the state's largest facility, a Wal-Mart food distribution center serving New 

England Wal-Mart Supercenters. 

An innovative healthcare, high precision manufacturing, financial services and printing center, 

Lewiston-Auburn is home to excellent companies, colleges and institutions. Some of the state's 

most prestigious companies are located in Auburn-Lewiston including Procter & Gamble's 

Tambrands, Inc., General Electric and L.L. Bean's Telemarketing Center. An independent study 

by KPMG International recently ranked the cost of doing business in Auburn-Lewiston nearly two 

percentage points below the U.S. benchmark. The Twin Cities is centrally located and offers 

access to nearly 50 percent of Maine's population within a 30-mile radius. 

Auburn-Lewiston has a current unemployment rate of 8.1% (May 2010), lower than the 

nationwide average of 9.5%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 

22.56%. 
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Advantage Business Services, Auburn 

Auburn Shoe, Auburn 

Andover College, Lewiston 

Bates College, Lewiston 

Central Maine Community College, Auburn 

Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston 

Dingley Press, Lisbon

Elmet Technologies, Lewiston 

Gates Formed Fiber Technologies, Auburn

Geiger Brothers, Lewiston 

General Electric, Auburn 

Hebron Academy, Hebron

ICT Group, Wilton 

Irving Forest Products, Dixfield 

Keiser Industries, Oxford 

L.L. Bean Telephone Oper. Center, Lewiston 

LePage Bakeries, Lewiston 

Liberty Mutual, Lewiston 

Maine Machine Products, So Paris 

McKesson, Lewiston

New Page Paper, Rumford 

Pioneer Plastics, Auburn 

Poland Spring Nestle, Poland 

Saddleback Ski Area, Rangeley 

Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems, Lewiston 

State of Maine, DHS, Lewiston 

Sugarloaf Ski Resort, Carrabassett Valley 

Sunday River Ski Resort, Newry 

Tambrands Inc. (Div.of Proctor&Gamble), Auburn

TD Banknorth, Lewiston 

University of Maine Farmington 

University of Southern Maine 

VERSO Paper, Jay

Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Lewiston 

White Rock Distilleries, Lewiston 

FIGURE 18: Auburn‐Lewiston Employers with More Than 100 Employees,

2010; Source: Lewiston‐Auburn Economic Growth Council
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Select Economic Profiles 

Bates Mill 

The Bates Mill, located in the heart of downtown Lewiston, is symbolic of the cultural identity, 

economic evolution and perseverance of the community. As the birthplace of Maine's industrial 

revolution, the Bates Mill Complex is of great economic and historic value to the City of Lewiston. 

Plans are well under way to convert the complex into modern uses. 

The Bates Mill Complex was constructed 

between 1852 and 1919. It consists of nine major 

buildings containing approximately 1.2 million 

square feet of floor space on a five acre parcel. 

Today the Bates Mill Complex, as it is now 

known, is home to several companies including 

TD Banknorth, Affiliated Computer Services and 

Androscoggin Bank. The mill tenants collectively 

employ over 1,000 people. 

It is the developer's objective to create in the Bates Mill a multi-use complex consisting of a 

compatible mix of manufacturing, retail, office, commercial and cultural uses. Building No. 1 will 

soon house a brewery. The Baxter Brewing Co., the first package brewery in the Twin Cities run 

by Auburn native Luke Livingston, 25, said opening a brewery in the Twin Cities is a way of giving 

back to the community where he was raised. "We want to incorporate as many Maine products 

into our beers at possible," he said. That could mean Maine maple syrup as well as locally grown 

hops or oats in future brews. 

The Lofts at Bates Mill, 52 apartments would mix 

low low-income and market-rate units in Bates 

Mill No. 2., and would include on-site laundry, 

access to a community room with computers, 

fitness and media rooms and free wi-fi. There’s 

also a food court planned for levels one and 

two.. At full build out, the collective employment in the Complex is projected to exceed 2,500 

people. The former weaving shed, know n as Building No. 5, also has a bright future. The city has 

received federal grants to create a master plan for the area. 
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Tambrands, Inc. 

Tambrands has been located in Auburn for 39 years. The company currently contributes $75 

million annually to the Maine economy through payroll, taxes, and purchasing of goods and 

services. The expansion is a $25.5 million investment and will be used to 

accommodate additional production lines and warehouse space for the 

company. “This investment shows a commitment to ensuring that these 

jobs stay in Maine,” the Governor said. The Auburn facility was one of three being considered 

for an expansion by Proctor & Gamble. A sourcing study was done to determine which site 

could best meet performance criteria. Proctor & Gamble chose Auburn because of the work 

force, Maine’s elimination of the business equipment tax, and the incentives contained in the 

Pine Tree Development Zones program.

White Rock Distilleries 

Since 1937, White Rock’s growth and success has been a story of commitment to innovation, 

strategic marketing and national leadership in sales and distribution. In 1971, Ray Coulombe 

recognized this potential, and purchased the 

small distillery on Maine’s Androscoggin 

River, located 25 miles inland from the Maine 

coast. At that time, White Rock had three 

employees, a 10,000-square-foot plant and 

was selling just 25,000 cases a year. 

Over the next three-plus decades, Ray and his son, Paul, built White Rock into a major force. 

Through strategic acquisition and development of new technologies, the Coulombe’s have 

expanded into 50 states and more than 20 countries. Their sales have grown from 25,000 cases a 

year to over three million, worldwide. Today, as White Rock continues to thrive, a third 

generation has come on board, Vice President of Florida Sales, Michelle Coulombe is working to 

build on the legacy of her grandfather and father. Like Maine, White Rock’s steady success is a 

product of character, tradition and quality. 
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Higher Education in the Auburn-Lewiston Area 

Auburn-Lewiston’s pretigious colleges and universities enroll more than 9,200 Full-Time Students 

from all 50 states and more than 40 foreign countries. Convenient and efficient travel is 

important for this academic area, both for faculty-related business travel, as well as student and 

family travel to and from the colleges. 

Bates College 

Auburn-Lewiston most well-known institution is Bates College, which was founded in 1855 and is 

the oldest continuously operating coed college in New England. Bates is continually listed 

among the top liberal arts colleges in the country by US News and World Report. The Princeton 

Review named Bates the No. 1 "Best Value 

College" in the United States in its 2005 ranking. 

Bates' 109-acre (44 ha) campus includes the 

George and Helen Ladd Library; the Olin Arts 

Center, which houses a concert hall, the Bates 

College Museum of Art; and the Edmund S. 

Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library. 

Andover College 

Bates is joined in the Auburn-Lewiston area by 

Andover College, which specializes in business 

programs for young professionals. In 1967, the 

Andover Institute of Business opened in Portland, Maine. In 1977, the State Board of Education 

granted Andover Institute approval to change its name to Andover College. By 1998, Andover 

College became the first school of its kind in Maine to receive accreditation from the New 

England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). In 2004, the Lewiston campus enrolled its 

first class. In the beginning of 2005, Andover College was purchased by Kaplan Higher 

Education Corporation (KHE), to be a part of its Kaplan Higher Education Campuses (KHEC) 

division. By joining such a prestigious company, Andover College has been given the support to 

continue the same excellent education for which it is known. 
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University of Southern Maine 

The area is also home to a University’s of Southern Maine campus, which offers a full range of 

liberal arts undergraduate programs. The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a multi-campus 

public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three 

primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, 

and Lewiston. Originally founded as two separate 

universities (Gorham Normal School, University of Maine 

at Portland), the two state universities were combined 

in 1970 to help streamline the public university system in 

Maine and eventually expanded by adding the 

Lewiston campus in 1988. The university is committed to 

being a national leader in interdisciplinary education, 

serving as a resource for the community, providing an outstanding educational experience for 

its students through degree programs that are responsive to changing cultural and workplace 

demands and that are available to a non-traditional and diverse student body. 

Central Maine Community College 

Central Maine Community College draws students from all of New England to its two-year 

college prep programs. Founded in 1963 as Androscoggin State Vocational Institute, later 

changed to Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. Its name was changed to Central 

Maine Technical College in 1989. As part of a statewide name change of the technical college 

system, on July 1, 2003 it became Central Maine Community College. The college is located in 

Auburn, Maine, in the south central region of Maine. The 135-acre campus overlooks Lake 

Auburn. 
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Auburn-Lewiston Tourism 

Arts and Culture 

With the cooperative spirit that now characterizes the relationship between Auburn and 

Lewiston, the two cities formed L/A Arts in 1973 in order to increase the number of cultural 

amenities in the area. In cooperation with local educational institutions and community 

organizations, the group sponsors hundreds of performances a year by artists, authors, actors, 

and others in the community and the schools. Nationally recognized artists regularly perform at 

the Olin Arts Center on the Bates College campus. 

The Androscoggin Chorale was formed as a community chorus in 1972. In 1991, the Chorale 

joined with the Maine Chamber Ensemble to form the Maine Music Society. The society has 

since offered several successful years of performances throughout the state, including operatic 

performances, classical music concerts, and holiday performances. The Lewiston-Auburn 

College/USM Atrium Gallery presents exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and photography from 

artists across the state. It also hosts the annual Area Artists Exhibition and annual L/A Arts Exhibit 

and Auction. The Bates College Museum of Art at Olin Arts Center is home to one of the region's 

finest collections of masterworks on paper, including the Marsden Hartley Memorial collection. 

More than 40,000 square feet of space at the Creative 

Photographic Art Center of Maine in the historic Bates 

Mill Complex is dedicated to photography and other 

related arts. Genealogical literature, historical exhibits 

on the Native American culture and Civil War artifacts 

are on display at the Androscoggin Historical Society 

Library and Museum. 

The Public Theatre, a fully professional Equity operation which has presented comedic and 

dramatic performances to the community for more than 10 years, was recently voted the best 

theatre company in Maine for the second year in a row. Since 1940, Auburn's Community Little 

Theatre has been producing musicals, dramas, comedies, and benefit concerts each year in the 

Great Falls Performing Arts Center. The Pleasant Note Coffeehouse is a combination restaurant 

and concert venue that presents a variety of artists ranging from up-and-coming locals to 

internationally known folk and jazz performers. Because of all these activities, the LewistonAuburn area has been designated as one of the best small arts towns in America. 
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Festivals and Holidays 

 Summer is festival time in Lewiston-Auburn; the season is inaugurated 

by the Maine State Parade, the largest such event in the state, held 

each May in Lewiston. In June, the Great Falls Canoe Race highlights 

the Androscoggin River. The Liberty Festival on July 4th draws 

thousands of visitors for live entertainment, food, and a fireworks 

display. Lewiston celebrates its French-Canadian heritage each 

summer with the Festival de Joie, a celebration of traditional food and 

music from all around the world. In mid-August, the skies over Auburn 

and Lewiston fill with the colorful sights of the Great Falls Balloon Festival; 45 balloonists from 

across the Northeast take part in the event. 

Outdoor Activities 

A wealth of summer and winter recreational activities is available in and around Auburn and 

Lewiston. The proximity to mountains, forests, and lakes offers opportunities to skiers, skaters, 

campers, boaters, hikers, and anglers. Bicycle tours of 

the back roads of the region are very popular. Just north 

of Lewiston is the Hebron-to-Canton Rail Trail, an 

abandoned railroad bed turned pedestrian and bike 

route—a 36 mile round trip overall. For watersports 

enthusiasts, Lewiston plays host to the Great Falls Canoe 

Race each June.

The Twin Cities maintain dozens of parks and playgrounds, a supervised beach, skating rinks, and 

ball fields and courts. The Ingersoll Arena in Auburn is available for public skating, skating 

instruction, and hockey from early October to mid-March. 

Sunday River Mountain Bike Park in Bethel is served by two ski lifts, 

and offers sixty miles of marked and patrolled trails. The Lost 

Valley ski area features downhill and cross-country skiing in the 

winter and mountain bike trails and paintball facilities in the 

summer. A number of golfing facilities are also located in or near 

Lewiston.
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Shopping and Dining 

The downtown areas of Auburn and Lewiston lost most of their retail 

trade to shopping centers in the 1980s but made a comeback as 

significant commercial centers in the late 1990s. Both Auburn and 

Lewiston have shopping malls, featuring major department stores, and 

Freeport—home of L.L. Bean, the outdoors outfitters—is about 30 minutes 

away from Lewiston. Nutcracker Sweets is an old-fashioned candy shop 

featuring handcrafted chocolates, and Orphan Annie's Antiques in 

Auburn offers a large selection of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Tiffany, 

Steuben, and other prominent French and American art glass. 

Sightseeing 

A stroll through the 109-acre campus of Bates College offers the sightseer a view of lawns, 

gardens, and ivy-covered buildings; one path leads to the summit of Mt. David, providing an 

aerial view of the Twin Cities and sometimes a glimpse of the White Mountains 50 miles to the 

west. Lewiston Falls and Dam are best viewed from North Bridge. Bird fanciers visiting the area 

may wish to explore Thorn-crag Bird Sanctuary, a 310-acre wildlife preserve for birds and small 

animals. The Mt. Apatite recreation area in Auburn features beautiful wooded hiking through an 

area once known for tourmaline mining. 

 
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CONCLUSIONS 

The Auburn-Lewiston market has been proven to be unique and totally unserved by the nation’s 

airlines. The region the Airport serves – from the Atlantic Ocean to the border with Canada – has 

had no access to the national air transportation system for more than 20 years. The Cities of 

Auburn and Lewiston recognize the disadvantage this poses in working to develop the 

economy, and they have put significant money into the project to correct this problem. 

The Airport’s market research shows the Auburn-Lewiston catchment area currently produces 

623 passengers per day each way, as of August of 2010 – all flying out of other airports in the 

region. Most Auburn-Lewiston passengers use Portland’s Jetport, despite an hour drive on a toll 

road. They simply have no other choice than to 

pay extra to access flights. They are tired of this 

inconvenience – this economic barrier – and are 

working with the Airport to secure local flights. 

Air service at Portland is becoming increasingly 

expensive, and planes are full. Capacity must be 

added in central Maine. The question is: should 

that capacity be added at an airport that’s 

already near full, or would the area be better 

served by the DOT partnering to add service at a reliever airport in a separate community? 

Moreover, the service proposed at Auburn-Lewiston is not duplicated at Portland – as Portland 

has no current non-stops to Boston. 

The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has designed this Grant-supported project to reduce the 

burden of connecting through multiple hubs, and to further reduce the distance that must be 

traveled to access the national air transportation system. The project eliminates a new airline’s 

barrier to entry by providing a revenue guarantee to cover losses in the start-up phase of the 

service. The Airport’s project also eliminates the carrier’s burden to pay landing fees, terminal 

rent, and parking fees for the first year of service. Additionally, with the Airport providing start-up 

cost offsets, that airline will not have to supply equipment – items including computers, signage, 

and ground handling vehicles will all be provided by the Airport. 

The Airport must develop aggressive incentive programs to recruit its first air service, and to 

reduce leakage to other airports. 

“Capacity must be added in 

central Maine. The question is... 

would the area be better served 

by the DOT partnering to add 

service ... in a separate 

community?”