SeaPort changes destination of flights to Houston airport
The U. S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday approved a request by SeaPort Airlines to fly into George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport instead of Dallas Love Field.
SeaPort was selected in 2013 to provide subsidized Essential Air Service at Hot Springs and El Dorado through Oct. 31, 2017, to provide Hot Springs with nine weekly one- stop round trips to Dallas and nine weekly nonstop round trips to Memphis.
In a July 10 filing, SeaPort requested that DOT allow it to alter its service pattern at Hot Springs and El Dorado by changing one of its hub destinations from Dallas to Houston.
According to a DOT news release, SeaPort cites several operational challenges at Dallas, including congestion, lack of ticket counter space and ongoing legal disputes with the airport operator, that have made it difficult to provide reliable service, which SeaPort contends necessitates a change in hub.
“SeaPort believes that demand from El Dorado and Hot Springs to Houston is strong and that Houston offers a greater number of connecting flight opportunities, both in terms of airlines and destinations,” the release said.
George Downie, airport director at Hot Springs Memorial Field, said during the Hot Springs Board of Directors meeting Tuesday night that a situation had developed at Love Field where Southwest Airlines had basically purchased all the gates and there are no gates left for SeaPort to access on arrivals or departures. One flight had to wait an hour and a half on the tarmac in a plane without a galley or restrooms, he said.
Downie said there are 702 flights departing Houston compared to 191 at Love Field, which will give passengers a greater opportunity to make better connections.
He said the change in destination would
require a stop in El Dorado, add about 15 minutes to the flight time, but would not result in an increase in the DOT subsidy. Flights to Houston would probably begin in September, Downie said.
Mayor Ruth Carney had a letter supporting the change sent to the DOT after Downie requested the board support it at the Tuesday night meeting.
The transportation department said SeaPort could revert to its original service at any time since the change was being allowed and not required.
The change in destination will provide nine one- stop flights to Houston each week and nine nonstop flights to Memphis.
The board also approved a resolution Tuesday night to provide an indemnification agreement to Park Residences Development for the Majestic Hotel property, which the city has offered to purchase.
The city agreed on July 7 to purchase the hotel complex for $ 680,000 cash and allow the difference between that and the estimated market value of $ 2.032 million to be considered a donation to the city. An original condition of the sale was that the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency release PRD LLC from any responsibility associated with the cleanup of the property.
ADEQ subsequently said it would not provide a release, and PRD LLC then asked the city to approve an indemnity agreement.
“Such an indemnification agreement places the environmental responsibility upon the city,” City Attorney Brian Albright told the directors, noting that the indemnification has the same effect as the original agreement.