Hibbing Airport Officials Concerned Over Budget

Delta Airlines Could Leave Airport if $2.8 Million Subsidy is Lost

HIBBING, Minn. – The proposed federal budget concerns another local community. This time the focus is on Hibbing’s Range Regional Airport.

As one of 12 weekly flights from Range Regional Airport prepared for take–off Thursday, airport officials’ thoughts were in Washington, D.C. as the Federal Aviation Administration Re-Authorization Bill hits Congress.

“The FAA Re-Authorization Bill is reintroduced every couple of years to support the FAA, air traffic control, airport projects, and in this case the Essential Air Service,” said Shaun Germolus, Executive Director of the Range Regional Airport.

The Essential Air Service program subsidizes airlines to the tune of $288 million a year at 173 rural airports across the country.  In Hibbing alone, Delta Airlines receives about $2.8 million annually.

Without these funds from the Essential Air Service, Delta Airlines could leave the Range Regional Airport which would have a devastating effect.

“It supports about 30 jobs at our airport and it provides about a third of our operating revenue,” said Germolus.  “It also gives us the ability to have a million dollars in entitlement funding for FAA grants.”

Without an airline, those grants drop to only a $150,000 per year.  However, the proposed cut doesn’t worry Germolus.

“It occurs about every time the reauthorization bill is introduced,” Germolus said.  “Fortunately there seems to be enough congressional support each year.”

Larry Warwas’ was at Range Regional for the first time Thursday.  He and his wife live about 15 miles away, in Iron, MN.  They chose Hibbing because the airport is much closer than airports in Duluth or the Twin Cities.

“We could drive farther, but it’s a lot more convenient,” said Warwas. “Judging by all the cars in the parking lot, there’s a lot of people that would be disappointed too.”