City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

Airport Advisory Board

City Hall

701 E. Broadway

Conference Room

1A/1B

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

1:00 PM

Regular

Columbia, MO 65201

I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM.

7 -

Present:

B.J. Hunter, Matthew Jenne, Gary Thompson, Thomas Richards, Randa Rawlins,

Jon Poses and Raman Puri

2 - Todd Culley and Britt Smith

Excused:

2 - Mike Parks and Shane Creech

Non-Voting:

II. INTRODUCTIONS

Board members, staff (Stacey Button, Lauren Weber, Shane Creech), and

guest introductions.

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

BJ Hunter made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted with a second by

Randa Rawlins. Motion passed unanimously.

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

AAB Meeting Minutes April 2023

Attachments: AAB Meeting Minutes April 2023

The April 26, 2023 meeting minutes were approved as submitted with a motion by

Randa Rawlins and a second by BJ Hunter. The minutes were approved

unanimously.

V. OLD BUSINESS

VI. NEW BUSINESS

None.

Mead and Hunt Presentation

Mike introduced Jeff Hartz and Ron McNeill from Mead & Hunt, COU’s air

consultant service, to discuss the passenger demand analysis. Ron

explained that Mead & Hunt has worked with COU since 2006. Jeff

explained that they buy data from Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC),

such as the customer’s billing address, where they flew from, and what

airline they flew through, and then combine this information with airline

reported data from the US Department of Transportation (DOT). Jeff noted

that the true market data is calculated for the year ended Sept 30, 2022,

and that the data focuses on passengers who come from the primary

catchment area, or the total number of travelers who theoretically should

use COU based on drive time, a population of about 500,000. Jeff stated

that this data shows that 159,000 total annual passengers (both

enplanements and deplanements), domestically and internationally,

originate from the catchment area. He said that the Columbia community

generated 49% of total catchment area passengers, while Jefferson City

generated 13%, and that Columbia, Jeff City, and Ashland had the highest

COU retention. Ron explained that in 2017, passengers flying out of COU

were typically very business-oriented, and that now most passengers are

focused more on leisure. The representatives from Mead & Hunt went on to

discuss data showing catchment areas for people flying in both

domestically and internationally. Jeff explained that 48% of those

passengers using alternate airports used Southwest Airlines, while

American Airlines captured 23%, and Delta Air and United Airlines

combined captured 20% (other airlines captured 9%). He displayed a

graph which shows average domestic one-way fares for COU, MCI, and

STL. The COU fare gap for the year ending in September of 2022 was $67

for STL and $54 for MCI, and he stated that the fare gap is at or near the

highest levels during the past 10 years. Matt Jenne asked if the fare gap

graph compared lower cost airlines, or if it’s only comparing American

Airlines to American Airlines and Jeff explained that it compares all

airlines. Regarding industry trends, Ron explained that the pilot shortage

continues, and although it is getting better but is still an issue, particularly

impacting regional and small airlines and markets. Ron stated that airline

costs have increased overall, primarily due to increased operational costs

such as payroll, maintenance, and fuel. Ron said that fuel prices peaked in

April 2022, although they are still higher than two years prior. Ron explained

that travel demand has changed when it comes to travel for business

versus for leisure, domestic travel versus international travel, and that

working from home has impacted travel dynamics, as meetings can often

be held virtually and no longer require airline travel.

VII. REPORTS

Report from Mike Parks

Mike Parks presented his report to the Board. He stated:

-Enplanements continue to be strong at over 8,000 for April.

-Larger aircraft are being used more frequently at COU.

-Tower operations, which is any aircraft that the traffic control center talks

to, were approximately 23,000 in 2021, and that in 2023 they are on track

to reach 30-35,000 operations.

-Cook Concrete is working on the sidewalk from the gravel parking lot

across the road to the front of the new terminal. They will also completed

two overnight repair projects on the primary runway.

-Currently negotiations are underway for the concessions contract. Mike will

bring recommendations to the AAB within the next 30 days.

-Mike reminded everyone that the next meeting’s time and location will

change. All meetings going forward will be held at the Airport conference

room at 3:00 PM.

VIII. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF

None.

IX. NEXT MEETING DATE

June 28, 2023

X. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:27 PM with a motion by Matt Jenne and a

second by Randa Rawlins. Motion passed unanimously.

Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to

disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in

making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in

advance of the posted meeting date as possible.