Lewiston still waiting on documents for deal with United Airlines that would maintain flights to Denver
Jan. 29—Lewiston's city council didn't vote Monday on a minimum revenue guarantee agreement with United Airlines because the city's legal team is waiting on the document.
Lewiston Mayor Dan Johnson provided that update at Monday's city council meeting, during which a decision on the agreement was expected. No one from the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport attended the meeting. Attempts by the Tribune to reach airport officials late Monday afternoon weren't successful.
Without a revenue guarantee agreement, United Airlines plans to discontinue its nonstop Denver-Lewiston commercial passenger flights and has requested a decision by Wednesday, Lewiston airport officials said earlier this month.
The airline lost $5.5 million on the service last year.
The city of Lewiston's elected officials last week instructed their legal team to complete the agreement with United after discussing the proposed terms of the contract at two meetings the week of Jan. 15.
Finalizing the agreement is a top priority for the city of Lewiston, Johnson said.
The city's legal team is in close contact with the airport's attorney and a consultant for the Lewiston airport has been working with United on the agreement, he said.
"We have done everything we can do at this point," Johnson said.
How much Lewiston would pay would depend on how full flights are under the proposed terms of the minimum revenue guarantee agreement.
The most the city of Lewiston would pay would be $4.08 million for a year, but it could be significantly less. If flights were 65% full, the subsidy would be $2.95 million for the year, while if they were 85% full, the subsidy would be $618,715.
The flights were 87% full in the spring, fall, and winter and 60% full in the summer in 2023, according to information the airport shared at public meetings.
Those numbers are expected to climb because of changes in flight times that are anticipated to be part of the minimum revenue guarantee agreement. The 50-seat jets United flies on the route can only carry 37 passengers if the temperature is 90 degrees or higher.
The flights arrive and depart midday when temperatures are warmer. The timing also makes it difficult for passengers to catch flights to other destinations once they land in Denver.
Under the new schedule, flights would leave Lewiston heading to Denver first thing in the morning and arrive from Denver in the evening.
That would limit instances where passengers have to be pulled from flights because of high temperatures and make it easier for passengers to make connecting flights in Denver.
United is one of two airlines that serve the Lewiston airport and carries 47% of the passengers who use the transportation hub. The Denver flights have been supported by a $4 million subsidy from Nez Perce County over three years that started in 2021, the same year the flights debuted.
The Lewiston airport also offers nonstop service to Salt Lake City and Seattle on Delta Air Lines.
Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2061.
