Why is it important for all Dubuquers to have commercial air service?

  • We would stop growing without it. Scouts for new industry and business locations fly in and out to negotiate the possible deal.
  • We could lose existing businesses. While larger companies do have private aircraft that they use to get their leadership teams to other locations, their vendors, customers, consultants, and business partners fly in and out commercially to do business with them.
  • Our higher education institutions would suffer from reduced enrollment.  Growth that is underway may be curtailed – like the medical college at UD. They rely on commercial air service to get applicants here for interviews for faculty and staff positions. Students and families are comforted by a quick way home if needed while in school.
  • If we can achieve the needed load factors the minimum revenue guarantee is moot. The needed load factors are only 40 % of the pre-covid load factors at our airport.
  • Denver Air is a better deal for many of us traveling for recreation. They have direct connections with Delta, American and United Flights. Your one ticket bought through Denver Air gets you and your luggage all the way to your final destination with any of the three partner airlines.  Parking is free at our airport.
  • July. 2025 showed about 60 % leisure travelers, 30 % business travelers and 10% were a combination of both.
  • We have reason to believe that if we lose Denver Air we will not get another carrier here…possibly ever.
  • What we really need is for Congress to allow us access to the Essential Aire Service Grants that other airports in Iowa receive. But for a quirk in the law, we are not eligible, though Waterloo, Sioux City, Burlington, Mason City and Fort Dodge all get substantial federal help to pay minimum revenue guarantees. There does not seem to be an appetite in Congress to work on this.
  • Air service at Dubuque is estimated to generate nearly $19 Million in economic impact to the City and County of Dubuque.