Airport's future

The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport appears to be at a turning point, one that some city officials and airport users envision as the potential for becoming the aviation hub for the region. Some important factors:n Repairs: Several repair needs will be met by $1.6 million in federal stimulus funding, but other needs will have to be addressed when the airport's master plan is updated.

* Connections with a major airport hub: In 2006, when the Cape Girardeau airport had four round-trip flights daily to and from St. Louis, boardings totaled nearly 9,000 passengers. Currently the federally subsidized passenger service offers two flights daily, and boardings have plunged to 290 in the first five months of this year. The contract is up for renewal later this year.

* Code sharing: Until 2006, the connecting flights to St. Louis shared booking codes with American Airlines, which meant passengers could easily book flights. The current operator's flights must be booked separately.

* Budget: While airport officials regard airport operations as an investment in economic development, the fact remains that the airport isn't producing enough revenue to match expenses. Under review are ways to turn some airport operations into revenue opportunities.

* Tower staffing: One budget item is staffing of the control tower, which was taken over by the city several years ago.

Each of these challenges deserve an honest appraisal and appropriate action.