Airport Delays Funding For Crosswind Runway

March 27, 2014
Signs of financial trouble are descending on Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP).

March 27--WEST BAY -- Signs of financial trouble are descending on Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP).

Airport Authority board members Wednesday halted plans for a $17 million federally approved crosswind runway, citing financial restraints. The airport paying its $2 million to $3 million share of the crosswind runway project would put ECP's financial status in jeopardy, airport board officials said.

"We're just not going to jeopardize the financial end of the airport with this right now," said John Pilcher, board chairman, noting crosswind runway development will remain a priority. "We're just going to have to put this on hold right now and figure out other ways to fund this thing."

The crosswind runway would provide better wind coverage for smaller aircraft. The airport's current runway doesn't meet Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) wind coverage requirement for smaller general aviation aircraft.

The news comes as airport officials announced year-to-date flights are down by more than 12 percent from this time last year; February flights were down 15 percent compared to February 2013.

Pointing to frigid weather and seasonal airline flight adjustments, airport Executive Director Parker McClellan countered ECP is in an "excellent financial position" and flights will be up again by later in the spring.

"We have two very successful airlines," he said of Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. "We have a financial plan that works for the future and what we're doing is not dwindling our reserves so that we can be in better financial in the future."

Fewer passengers reflected a number of losses in an ECP financial report presented at Wednesday's meeting.

Revenues stand at 3 percent less than expected at this time, according to administration director Pamn Henderson. Airline landing fees and revenue from concessions also were lower than expected.

Since revenue hangs about $1 million over expenses, money is available to cover debt services, capital expenses and other expenses, she said.

"If you look at the number, it's not that aggressive," Pilcher said. "But that is the whole reason for keeping our funding and not getting our funds depleted because we have no control over the economy, over airlines setting their prices, over people wanting to pull back and not fly.

"So, all of this is playing a part in what we can do as far as expanding, and the crosswind runway is a prime example," he added. "We have to be prudent, we have to look at our resources and look at our income and plan for the future accordingly."

Copyright 2014 - The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.