Will Pease Get a New Airline in 2013?

Pease International Tradeport continues to be one of the strongest economic engines in New Hampshire with companies that employ more than 7,800 people who earn more than $500 million in annual wages.

But there is still one prize that Pease Development Authority officials have been unable to add to their accomplishments: a new commuter airline that would serve Portsmouth International Airport.

PDA Executive Director David Mullen said Pease officials are still talking with one air provider he would not name that wanted to serve Pease in 2012. He said they are now looking to provide direct commuter service from Pease to Florida beginning in the fall.

"The reason they didn't come this fall is because one of the deals they had to purchase additional aircraft fell through," said Mullen.

Over its 20-year history, Pease has seen several airlines come and go that included SkyBus, Pan Am, Business Express and Allegiant Airlines. to begin commercial air service in the fall of 2011, but was unable to make it happen.

But Mullen said hope springs eternal that one day Pease will land a new airline that will be able to provide direct flights from Portsmouth to Florida. He said Portsmouth International Airport is in a good location given its proximity to Logan International Airport in Boston and Boston-Manchester Regional Airport in Manchester.

Pease also enjoys having the NH Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing as a neighbor that provides free fire and rescue service and air traffic controllers, Mullen added. The NH Air National Guard is currently working with U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, to have some of the Air Force's new KC-46A tankers deployed at Pease Air National Guard Base.

Mullen said PDA officials have also hired a consultant to help them market Portsmouth International Airport so they can increase their chances of landing a new airline.

Portsmouth International Airport has a state of the art terminal and free parking, Mullen said. Pease's best hope to land a new airline provider is as a "reliever airport" for airlines that can't grow anymore in Boston or Manchester, Mullen said.

He said that once just one of the major air carriers like a JetBlue or Southwest Airlines wants to add more flights, but cannot add them at those airports, they will look at Pease.

"Once you get one airline doing it, typically other airlines will be interested in doing it as well," he said.