Latest news with #Kingsport-based
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington Co., Tenn. contributes to effort for new airline at Tri-Cities Airport
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Washington County, Tennessee, joined a growing list of groups around the region to commit financially to bringing another airline to Tri-Cities Airport (TRI). Sullivan County committed $240,000 and Kingsport agreed to fund $250,000 to that effort. Now, Washington County said it will contribute $240,000 to the initiative, which Kingsport-based organization 'BRIDGE' is spearheading. BRIDGE members say adding another airline would be an economic benefit for the region. 'Our airport has around between 250 and 270,000 people fly out of it every year,' said BRIDGE's Executive Director John Rose. 'But there's over 400,000 people fly out of competing airports. So we're losing 60% of the potential people that could fly out of this airport, go to competing airports. And it's because, they can oftentimes save money, on ticket price.' JC Brewing Company announces new location Rose told News Channel 11 on Tuesday that groups and localities working with BRIDGE must first raise $2 million, which will be funded over two years to support the new air service at TRI. 'The airport cannot raise nor incentivize money, nor incentivize funds for [an] individual airline,' Rose said. 'That's against FAA regulations. So they need a third-party group to do that for them. So, under our board's direction, we volunteer to help facilitate raising funds.' Rose said that while he can't discuss possible destinations that the airline would offer, he said two 'major' cities would be included in added flights. 'The next step is to continue, you know, outreach and meeting with people and sharing the project and getting the funds raised. And then also, we're in the final steps of finalizing the contract with [the] proposed airline. And so that that is the next step, is raise the money, sign the agreement, and then an announcement of when our service would start at Tri-Cities.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Deal to expand air service at Tri-Cities Airport ‘off the table for now'
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — A deal to expand air service at Tri-Cities Airport 'appears to be off the table, at least for now,' according to the organization behind the initiative. The announcement from Kingsport-based BRIDGE, a regional economic development organization, came after members of the organization met with the prospective airline on Wednesday. 'We let them know that because several of our public sector funding partners were still in the process of holding public meetings to approve the commitment of funds, we would need at least until early March before we could say for certain we would be able to meet their requirements,' Executive Director John Rose said in a release. 'Within a few hours, we received a call from our air service consultant saying the airline had given us until close of business Friday to take the deal.' Flurry of witnesses take stand in Megan Boswell trial The airport is owned by six localities: Bristol, Tennessee; Kingsport; Johnson City; Bristol, Virginia; Sullivan County; and Washington County. BRIDGE was in the process of approaching local governments to secure funding for the deal. It met with Kingsport and Bristol leaders earlier this week. Rose presented the deal to the Johnson City Commission on Thursday. But, he does not fault local governments for the deal falling through. 'That is in no way a criticism of the local governments in the region,' Rose said. 'They gave us the opportunity to present this deal, and they were working as quickly as they could. They have a responsibility to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money, and we certainly respect that.' Rose said it's 'disappointing,' but 'airlines move at their own speed.' 'We know now that we need to have funds set aside and ready to go next time an offer like this comes along,' he said. 'The airlines won't wait.' 'Tri-Cities Airport remains an economic driver for our region and we look forward to the next opportunity.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
