Committee forwards Lyft and Uber lease renewals and hears airport runway and route updates

The Business & Economic Development Committee voted to forward one-year renewals of the airport leases for Lyft and Uber to the full Bangor City Council and heard operational updates from airport staff about runway work and recently added seasonal routes.

Airport staff presented the annual renewal of the commercial operating agreements for rideshare providers and said the terms were unchanged from the prior agreement. A committee member moved to forward the leases for approval and the committee agreed to send the item to the full council for final action.

Airport staff also reported that the runway rehabilitation program is proceeding with planned closures. Staff said the runway closed at 8 a.m. the morning of the meeting and was scheduled to reopen Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a shortened configuration; one additional 17-hour closure is planned for mid-September. Staff described this week’s 55-hour closure as the last long closure under this phase of the project.

On airline service, staff said routes to Detroit and Atlanta have performed well enough that carriers upgraded aircraft size and extended service beyond initial short-term schedules. The Detroit route operates primarily on Saturdays outside holiday windows, and the airline expanded service during the July 4 week and extended seasonal service after positive initial results.

Staff said data from the seasonal routes will support future discussions with carriers about more permanent schedule expansion. No changes to airport operating agreements beyond the one-year renewal recommendation were proposed.