Airport negotiations ongoing: board chair

Stephenville Airport continues to operate on a touch and go basis amid negotiations with an American company to potentially take over the facility.

Airport Corporation Board Chair Shawn Tilley said last week he and other members of the town's negotiating team continue to speak with KAZ Aviation.

"Discussions with KAZ are continuing and should be finalized soon," he said.

Mr. Tilley said from what he understands, the company has made some changes to their US operations. He said he is still cautiously optimistic a deal can be reached between the company and Stephenville Airport.

"Although they have made some changes to strategy for their Kissimmee, Florida, operation Stephenville is still a high priority for them," he said.

The airport board also continues to wait for word from the provincial government, to whom it submitted a proposal for interim financing to keep the airport afloat while it negotiates a deal with KAZ.

While Mr. Tilley noted they have not yet heard from government, it looks promising.

"We're getting a tentative approval process but its not formalized yet," he said. "Indications are good that we're going to receive this funding but its not confirmed and none of the details are worked out yet."

The airport has landed some large traffic lately, which has contributed to its short-term financial stability.

"As far as I know right now we're not that poorly off," he said. "We've had a few flights lately off and on so

those things have helped. We're not in the dire circumstances we were in financially even like a few weeks ago."

Meanwhile, members of the media, Stephenville town council and the area's political representation were contacted via email several times last week by Stephenville resident Jeffery Short.

Details about the town's negotiations with KAZ remain private, but in his emails, Mr. Short calls on the mayor to release information about those dealings.

Mayor O'Brien has stated that business negotiations between the town, the airport, and KAZ will remain behind closed doors, as is the best interest of all parties involved.

Mr. Tilley said he understands the concerns of people in the area about the airport, and that they are heard.

"We feel that with representatives on our Board from the Town of Stephenville, Citizens' Action Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce the concerns of the region are being heard," he said.

He said he can understand the need of people to be in the know where the airport is concerned, but that the board has to draw a line in responding to every criticism and inquiry.

"People have to understand that Stephenville Airport Corporation is a private company and its Board has a fiduciary duty to make decisions based on what it perceives is best for the continued operations of the Airport," he said.

"We don't respond directly to commentaries in the media, open line, coffee shops, etc. as that really serves no purpose for our organization."

Meanwhile, Liberal Opposition Critic Marshall Dean, MHA for the district of The Straits and White Bay North and Opposition municipal affairs critic, called on the provincial government last week to provide the airport with the interim financing it seeks.

Mr. Dean said he thinks the funding is a legitimate request.

"The infrastructure has been there for a long time, it's an important piece, I would think, to the region," he said.

"I know from personal experience and living on the West Coast the airport has always played an important role there and has the potential to continue to do so."