Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!
In this episode, Jacob Espinoza and Eleanor Ryan are joined by Brent DeHart from Fly Salem for an in-depth conversation about the past, present, and future of commercial aviation at Salem-Willamette Valley Airport. This discussion comes on the heels of Avelo Airlines' announcement that they're discontinuing service to Salem as part of their broader West Coast exit strategy.
You'll learn about:
- The real story behind Avelo's departure from Salem and why it had nothing to do with local performance
- How Salem's air service recruitment actually works and where the funding comes from (spoiler: it's not city taxpayer money)
- The impressive economic impact data - $33-35 million in additional local spending from just two years of limited service
- Why Salem's catchment area of 680,000 people makes it one of the largest underserved markets in the West
- The protest controversy and how deportation flights factored (or didn't factor) into Avelo's decision
- What it will take to attract the next airline to Salem and the $1-1.5 million recruitment package needed
- The infrastructure improvements that are now in place, making Salem ready for immediate airline service
