AIRLINE TRAVEL BANK GOALS MET - REDMOND TO SALT LAKE CITY
FLIGHTS BEGIN MARCH 1st
Economic
Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) has succeeded in a
meeting a December 30th deadline for collecting over $500,000
in actual deposits and contracts from participating companies
for the Delta Airline Travel Bank. Final contracts with Delta
to secure two daily round trip flights from Redmond to Salt
Lake City beginning March 1, 2005 are complete now that the
Airline Travel Bank funds are deposited. 115 companies committed
$626,000 toward the Airline Travel Bank.
Companies
still contacting EDCO to participate in the Airline Travel Bank
are unable to participate at this point, but are being
encouraged to use the service if it will help them with their
travel around the country.
As
part of a proposal made to Delta in August, the local incentive
package included a $500,000 federal grant from the Department
of Transportation, $450,000 in marketing resources and $500,000
revenue guarantee provided through the Travel Bank. The Central
Oregon business community dramatically exceeded the required
$500,000 by pledging $654,000 towards the Travel Bank.
EDCO’s effort to secure the travel bank was supported by
a host of other organizations including the Redmond Airport,
Central Oregon Visitor’s Association (COVA) and other
leaders in the visitor industry.
The
Travel Bank represents pre-paid travel committed by businesses
and is designed to assure Delta that if it invests in the
region, it will have passengers during the critical 12 month
start up period for airlines. Travel Bank funds can be used on
Delta Air Lines and its code-share partners for travel anywhere
Delta flies.
Economic
Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is a membership-based,
private, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a strong
and secure economic future for Central Oregon. Learn more about
EDCO at www.edforco.org.
