May 3, 2004
MiBiz Network
By Rod Kackley

MUSKEGON — Northwest Airlines will introduce jet service on one of its daily flights from Muskegon to Detroit June 10. That could lead to additional Northwest flights to and from Muskegon County Airport. The airline has agreed to replace one of three daily flights on the 34-passenger Saab 340 turbo-prop aircraft with the Canadair Regional Jet operated by Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Northwest Airlines spokesman Thomas Becher told MiBiz that Northwest has set a monthly revenue goal of $176,000 for the Muskegon market. After that period is finished, the airline will look back at the revenue received. If the airline meets or surpasses that goal, additional flights could be added to the schedule. Becker said that Northwest would consider continuing the service or perhaps adding a regional jet or possibility adding a fourth flight. If Northwest doesn’t hit the $761,000 target, the shortfall would be made up out of the $500,000 federal Small Community Air Service Development grant.

Muskegon County Airport Manager Marty Piette believes that the $761,000 monthly revenue target established by Northwest is attainable. “That is not necessarily profit, just revenue in general. The U.S. Department of Transportation doesn’t have all of the numbers from Northwest, but their initial indications is that that is a realistic number and we are fairly close to it even without the jet service,” he said.

Even if Northwest does not decide to add flights to and from Detroit, Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Larsen considers the addition of jet service for even a six-month period to be a major victory.

“That, in and of itself, is a generator of economic activity. More importantly, we need to have an active airport to support business growth, especially as businesses become more global. They need easy access to quality air service,” she told MiBiz. “This is just one more step in the process of building the (Muskegon County) airport.”

Larsen says more than 100 business leaders in the Muskegon area have already committed to use the jet service, including MiBiz West.

Piette agrees with Larsen. He told MiBiz, “It is absolutely good news. We are very excited about it. It has been a project that has been in the works for the last several years.”

According to Larsen, the Detroit connection will be a great benefit to Muskegon. “Detroit is a huge hub for both domestic and international travel, and, of course it is one of the manufacturing capitals of the world.”

In addition to the DOT Small Community Air Service Development grant, the state of Michigan and the Muskegon community are contributing $50,000 each for marketing the jet service. So there will be advertising to support the service.

Becher said that the state and federal grant money that was put together in a package did help convince Northwest to introduce jet service on one of its daily flights between Detroit and Muskegon.

“It certainly was an influence. We always look at these things as a partnership with airports. That always plays an important role.”

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This article appeared in the May 3, 2004 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who do business in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.