Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood Township — Four airline companies have submitted proposals to provide essential air service at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport.
County board chairman Joe Bonovetz, of Bessemer, told the Daily Globe Wednesday the current passenger airline, Air Choice One, from Chicago, is seeking to continue at the airport and has submitted a proposal for a four-year deal.
On April 18, 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a contract to Air Choice One.
The airport board could now choose any one of the four companies as its recommendation to the U.S. DOT.
The contract term for essential air services that begins Aug. 1 specifies a two-year period.
Bonovetz said after Wednesday’s county board meeting that a meeting was set for later Wednesday with one of the four companies.
Air Choice One may have solidified its bid for a new contract when it recently added a flight to Minneapolis, in addition to the flights to Chicago.
A special public hearing to receive comments on essential air service is scheduled for Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the airport.
The proposals from the four companies will be reviewed at the Monday meeting, with public input urged.
