Objectives: This initiative has two separate objectives relating to improving regional air travel service: (1) Improve the performance of existing services; (2) Determine the degree of support from the Southwestern Michigan business community for securing non-stop service to top destinations.

Objective 1: Improved Air Service.

Focus: Improve the performance of the existing arrival and departure schedule at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Airport, thus enhancing travel efficiency for local and non-local air travelers. The following minimum performance measures are proposed as goals to be achieved by each air carrier serving the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Airport:

• Obtain on-time (within 15 minutes of scheduled time) departures and arrivals performance for a minimum of 90 percent of the scheduled flights.
• Operate at least 95 percent of scheduled flights.
• Reduce connecting layover time to and from the top thirty destinations to less than one hour for minimum of 90 percent of scheduled flights.

Activities: Assess performance and explore incentives.

• Obtain baseline data measuring current performance against the above criteria to access feasibility of goals.
• Solicit feedback and support from carriers regarding the achievement of these goals.
• Establish support from connecting airports regarding the achievement of these goals.
• Study schedules to determine current status of connection layover times.
• Establish carrier motivational factor, which may include positive public relations, consumer awareness and competition.
• Obtain additional feedback by surveying business travelers entering and leaving this region by air.

Objective 2: Expand Non-Stop Air Service.

Focus: Determine the level of support from the Southwestern Michigan business community associated with non-stop service to top destinations through the following options:

• Creating a Southwest Michigan regional airport serving the larger Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Lansing areas.
• Increasing non-stop service at one of the existing airports.
• Establishing non-stop service utilizing cooperating schedules and the existing airports.
• Obtaining funds to subsidize non-stop services to the New York area (a priority destination for regional business travelers).

Activities: Analyze options and support.

• Solicit feedback and with business leaders from Grand Rapids, Lansing and Battle Creek, determine if those communities have a similar level of interest regarding increased non-stop flights to top destinations.
• If there is strong interest to increase non-stop service regionally, conduct a study to determine whether these or other options would deliver the desired results.
• Research the requirements necessary to gain state, federal or other forms of support for subsidizing non-stop flight service to the New York area as a tool for business retention and enhancing economic development.