each well-equipped to handle a variety of aircraft.The airport provides comprehensive services, including aircraft rescue and firefighting, air traffic control, and a fixed-base operator (FBO), offering amenities such as hangar space, aircraft maintenance, in-flight catering, and a flight crew lounge. Mike Lewis, the Airport Manager, offers an update on a recent project.“We don’t have a date for SkyWest to come in yet,” he shares, reflecting the uncertainties that hover over potential developments. “We’re in ongoing negotiations, but certain things must fall into place.” A significant disruption came from an unexpected quarter—Boeing’s delay in delivering aircraft due to issues with a door on an Alaska Airlines plane. This delay has a ripple effect, impacting airlines like SkyWest, which partners with major carriers such as American, Delta, and United. “SkyWest’s interest in our market has been eclipsed for now because they’ve had to cover for these delays,” Lewis explains. The challenges faced by Four Corners are not isolated. “Southwest Airlines closed four cities and laid off 2,000 people,” Lewis notes, pointing out the broader impact of the aircraft delivery delays. This kind of upheaval is unprecedented in Southwest’s history and is directly tied to the logistics of airplane leasing and the cascading effect of delayed new deliveries. Reflecting on the past, Lewis recalls, “In May 2020, SkyWest had given us an offer to start service. The city council approved it, and the mayor signed it.” However, the optimism of that period quickly faded as the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic set in. By June and early July, it was clear that the recovery of air travel was not as swift as hoped.“We decided to wait for a more opportune time,” he says, noting that federal grant money is available to help launch the service, but it’s a one-time opportunity that needs to be used wisely. Tracking air traffic data is a critical part of their strategy. Lewis points out, “Before COVID, TSA was screening between 2.2 and 2.7 million people a day in the U.S. At the height of the pandemic, that number plummeted to 87,000 in one day.”This stark 3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 07 FOUR CORNERS REGIONAL AIRPORT
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