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Roswell council backs airport improvement projects and approves $748,617 subsidy for SkyWest/United service
Summary
Council heard an airport briefing on taxiway, terminal and museum-site projects and approved a $748,617.26 budget adjustment to SkyWest/United Express to support nonstop service to Albuquerque; staff reported current bookings project a 71% load factor and said state grant support is expected.
City staff gave the council a comprehensive update on improvement projects at the Roswell Air Center and the status of commercial air service.
Omar Gonzalez briefed the council on multiple airfield projects: construction on taxiway Lima with substantial completion anticipated in June, taxiway Charlie rehabilitation with a May 15 targeted completion, and a multi-taxiway pavement maintenance program that is 90% designed with bids planned for mid-June and construction expected in late summer 2026. He also reported the terminal restroom renovation is complete and that FAA inspection left staff "pleased with the airport conditions." Gonzalez said the airport continues to pursue FAA grant funding to support long-term reliability and growth.
On airline performance, Gonzalez reported United Airlines carried 2,505 passengers in April (a 41% boarding rate), and bookings from the next reporting window currently put projected load at about 71% for the upcoming period.
Council then debated and approved a budget adjustment of $748,617.26 to SkyWest/United Express under the Small Community Air Service Development Program to support nonstop service to Albuquerque. Councilor Barnett moved to approve the adjustment; the motion passed by voice vote. Councilors discussed invoice composition (a large portion was identified as a fuel surcharge), the program's minimum-revenue-guarantee structure, and state-level grant prospects, including an expected $292,500 state aviation grant later in July to support rural air service.
Councilors framed the subsidy as a short-term investment to stabilize flights while marketing and ridership ramp up. Several members emphasized a load-factor target of roughly 80% as the informal threshold at which the subsidy would no longer be required; staff said achieving that level typically stabilizes service.
The council asked staff to provide detailed invoices and documentation for the subsidy and related grant reimbursements, and staff said copies of the third-party invoices would be made available to councilors.
