Midwest - SPI blows through $1.4 million in subsidies

United to SPI: Thanks for the cash. Hope you enjoyed the flight while it lasted!

http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/30161.asp

The title of your thread is misleading. Per the article, the flight had a $1.4MM revenue guarantee, and the airport just had to make up the difference which was quoted as "not much".

The title of your thread is misleading. Per the article, the flight had a $1.4MM revenue guarantee, and the airport just had to make up the difference which was quoted as "not much".

I'm not sure that's correct. Here's the relevant section from the article:

Passenger numbers just never reached a profitable level, and the subsidies became too expensive, airport board chairman Frank Vala said Monday. “We’re going to be under the whole commitment ($1.4 million), but not by much,” Vala said.

I read this as Vala is saying that the airport won't be liable for the entire $1.4 million, but will come close (i.e. 1.2 or 1.3 million). If it was the other way around, then I don't think the airport would be calling the subsidies "too expensive".

So yes, I did exaggerate slightly with my title, but I think I correctly captured the spirit of the thing.

Here's an updated link, BTW, as the first one appears to be dead:

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x934421514/Springfield-airline-service-set-back-a-year