Fly The Local Skies

Bishop Airport staff put on a fabulous program for members last week at the airport.  After a sumptious buffet breakfast, members listened intently to an update on airport activities from Director Jim Rice.

Jim provided a few updates before answering member's questions:

1.  Thanksgiving through spring - busiest time for the airport;

2.  The airport has capacity to serve 2 million passengers per year (they currently serve about 1 million passengers per year);

2.  In 2010, passenger traffic is up 2-3% and cargo traffic is up 25%;

3.  Air Tran has been the driver behind Bishop's growth; everyone is anxiously awaiting the merger between Southwest and Air Tran to see how it will impact the airport;

4.  Top destinations from Bishop for passengers include Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Ft Myers, Tampa, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston and New York;

5.  The airport was designed so that it could be expanded over time;

6.  The airport is moving towards a "green" environment by recently updating their de-icing system to now have the runoff process through the City of Flint sanitary system (instead of in the ground). 

Jim continued by sharing that a restaurant and gift shop in the passenger area is in the planning stages and that by January, 2011 a decision will be made on whether to add an additional wing west (toward Koegel's) that could cost between $50-$60 million to complete.

The airport is supported by a public millage, plus generation of revenues from landing fees, rental cars, parking lot fees, etc.  They operate a $13 million annual budget and have over 700 people who work at the airport. 

Our visit concluded with a shuttle bus tour on the secondary road within the airport complex. 

For more information about Bishop Airport, go to www.bishopairport.org.