For better fares, economic development’s the ticket

Much has been written about Bangor’s airport of late: The fares are too high, the planes too small and the schedules too meager. It isn’t hard to figure out what the problems are. Deregulation freed the airlines to charge whatever they want and to offset low fares in hotly contested markets with much higher fares on less popular routes.

As Bangor’s market isn’t yet large enough to attract major discount carriers, fares here tend to be higher. Low population and slow income growth are at the root of the problem; issues well beyond the airport’s control.

Slow growth is Maine’s central economic problem and the cause of endless clashes about tax cuts and government spending. Lost in the debate are the economic policies that could make the difference: sensible growth strategies aimed at improving both gross state product and investment attraction.

That has little to do with liberal versus conservative approaches and rather more with 20th versus 21st century thinking. Legislators should ditch outdated party dogma and focus instead on their common causes. Economic growth can come about only in a political climate that facilitates it.

Tourism benefits the state as it brings in “new money,” and so it is often touted as a key component of Maine’s economic agenda. But to really make that work, significant investments in local infrastructure must be made. To that end, Maine might consider meaningful incentives for developers of large-scale tourism facilities. Concentrated development of that kind generally produces far smaller “footprints” than more widespread small-scale development.

While more tourism would strengthen Bangor’s air service levels, so would increases in the region’s year-round population and diversity. One way to make that happen is to attract inward investment and to provide incentives for any businesses, old or new, that generate “new money” for the state.

Portland, with a far larger market than Bangor, only recently succeeded in attracting low-cost carriers. The resulting lower air fares inevitably make Bangor’s fares look less competitive. Absent meaningful growth north of Waterville, that probably won’t change anytime soon. Air travelers who want Portland’s fares shouldn’t complain about the drive south.

Most Americans drive as far to reach their airport of choice. It does make great sense, however, to support Bangor’s airport whenever pricing and overall convenience allow. In the meantime, residents should demand that their leaders and legislators pursue the policies necessary to stimulate statewide economic development. Sensible tax reform would seem to be the place to start.

Bob Ziegelaar is president of Telford Aviation Inc. and a former director of Bangor International Airport.