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Waterloo Regional Airport leaders urge local flyers to use ALO as route growth plan continues
Summary
Airport board members told supervisors that two daily American Airlines regional flights and a June upgauge give the region more seats but have lowered load factors; they urged community use to attract additional service and announced a TSA PreCheck event planned for February.
Representatives of the Waterloo Regional Airport briefed the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 about efforts to grow passenger air service at ALO.
David Dietz, chair of the Waterloo Regional Airport Board, described the airport as an "engine" for economic development and said the county currently has two daily American Airlines regional jet flights into Chicago. "We're currently served by American Airlines...we're served by 2 flights a day, on a 65-seat regional jet aircraft," Dietz said, noting the carrier and the local schedule provide connections through American's Chicago hub to roughly 175 nonstop destinations.
Steven Kiergaard and other airport leaders said a June upgauge to a larger aircraft improved passenger experience (dual-class cabin, Wi-Fi, in-flight entertainment) but increased seat capacity and therefore lowered load factors, which can make it harder to secure additional routes. Airport presenters urged residents to "invest in ourselves when we choose to fly from here" and said the community needs to fill existing seats to attract carriers. "If just 5% more Cedar Valley flyers used ALO, the airline could add 1 extra flight or destination," a presenter said.
Airport staff noted a TSA PreCheck mobile event planned Feb. 10–13 and said the industry is expecting changes to the Essential Air Service (EAS) program; presenters reported the airport is seeing an expected subsidy reduction of about $2 million in the next EAS bidding cycle. Airport leaders described outreach to other carriers and strategies to incent less-than-daily service as a next step, including potential community financial participation to mitigate carrier risk.
Supervisors asked about barriers to additional carriers and about the difference between fares when accounting for parking and time; presenters said airlines set fares and regional comparisons should include time and total trip cost. No board action was taken; supervisors were briefed on the airport's outreach plans and upcoming TSA event.
