| NEWS | |  |
|
 |
|
| Last updated at 9:36 AM on 03/11/09 |
'A diamond in the rough' 
US aviation company sees potential in Stephenville Int'l Airport
SABRINA SKINNER
The vice president of an American-based aviation company interested in taking over operations at Stephenville International Airport says meetings in the town last week went well and his company hopes to ink a deal.
KAZ Aviation has been in negotiations with the Stephenville Airport Board since 2007. The company specializes in fixed-base operations at airports - providing fuel, catering and ground handling services to its market traffic.
KAZ currently operates a fixed-base operation at an airport in Kissimmee, Florida. It is the first of the company's planned operations, which cater to private and corporate air traffic, similar to the traffic flow to Stephenville's airport.
Steve Bowlin, the company's vice president, says he first learned of Stephenville airport through an aviation trade show seven years ago.
"What best describes our business plan is we're looking for diamonds in the rough. I think we found one in Kissimmee and I think Stephenville fits that mold with all the potential that's here."
Mr. Bowlin says the Stephenville airport needs to be capitalized on, with many improvements made. He hopes KAZ will be the company to do that.
If an agreement is reached between the Town of Stephenville and KAZ, the company plans to market the airport to private and corporate traffic, but relying heavily on what he calls the airport's bread and butter - transatlantic fuel stops.
He says a great deal of marketing must be undertaken to let the aviation world know that Stephenville airport is open for business and can cater to their needs.
"We're looking to invest a significant amount of money into the airport, because you're not going to draw the business without financial investment," he says.
"This would include upgrades to the terminal building, a new [fixed-base operations] building, additional fuel capacity and resolving all the supply issues. Whatever the repairs need to be done to the airport and upgrades and whatnot to make this a first-class place."
He says meetings he attended in the town were positive, but cautioned the possibility that no deal may be met.
"There are folks with some concerns and hopefully we answered those questions to relieve those concerns, but I think there's always going to be some folks who will worry about something new in general," he says.
Airport Corporation Board chair Shawn Tilley says his impression of last week's meetings with KAZ were positive, including a meeting held with the town's council.
"We're far from finalizing a deal or anything," says Mr. Tilley, "But we should be able to make a conclusion in the next couple of weeks about whether there's room there to make a deal or not."
Mr. Tilley says the airport board itself, while not unanimous in its support of KAZ, has passed two resolutions in support of a deal with the company.
"I think what we're looking at is this is an excellent way to get investment into the airport, especially this private sector money that would be hard to get otherwise."
Mr. Tilley says ideally, the board would like to see a combination of private and public sector money fueling the airport. A business plan for the airport is still being worked on and when complete, will be submitted to the province for consideration of public funds.
|
03/11/09
|
|
|
