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The Las Cruces City Council will continue to explore the feasibility of reestablishing commercial passenger air service at Las Cruces International Airport. Council consensus to keep moving forward was given during its Monday, Sept. 28 Council Work Session.
In a presentation to City Council, consultants with Airplanners, LLC and RRC Associates, a consumer research and consulting company, said there was compelling research to show that two to four daily commercial passenger flights, to Dallas, Phoenix or maybe both cities, could fly out of Las Cruces. The consultants also identified American Airlines as a potential provider of commercial passenger air service for Las Cruces International Airport. The consultants added “conservative” estimates showed 111 to 158 passengers from Las Cruces fly each day to Dallas on American Airlines.
The City’s Economic Development Department is working with Airplanners, LLC and Air Service Development and Consulting, to conduct a commercial air service study to determine the feasibility of restoring passenger air service. The study is in support of the City Council Strategic Action Plan and Economic Development Department’s Strategic Business Plan goals to have daily, regional commercial flights.
City council had numerous questions and comments about restoring commercial passenger air service for Las Cruces. City council and the consultants mutually agreed those questions and comments are the basis to continue a determination of the feasibility of restoring commercial passenger air service for Las Cruces.
There have been no scheduled passenger flights at Las Cruces International Airport since Westward Airways ceased operations in July 2005. Historically, 11 airlines provided commercial passenger air service at Las Cruces International from the late 1940s to 2005.
City council’s review of a draft landscape master plan at the airport was another topic of discussion during Monday’s work session. The Economic Development Department staff, through its Airport Development program, with the support and engagement of tenants at Las Cruces International Airport, are working with landscape architects at Sites Southwest to develop a master plan.
