El Paso Airport Adding Incentives For More Non-Stop Flights

EL PASO — A new El Paso International Airport initiativeis designed toadd more non-stop flights to fly out of the facility, and that could mean lower prices for passengers, officials said Monday.

The measure has been placed the agenda at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Passengersmay not have to leave their seats when flying to certain destinations if the item is approved. An incentive to the various carriers: those whichstart a new non-stop service out of El Paso will not have to pay landing fees for 90 days.

However, those savings will be deferred to 90 daysafter the first anniversary the non-stopservice begins, airport officials said.

Aviation Director Patrick Abelnsaid histheory is that if more non-stop flights are coming to the local airport, ticket prices will go down.

“That’s really the key we’re looking for,” he said. “The lowest possible fares for our consumers and availability of flights in peak periods.”

Abeln said such an incentive has come at an appropriate time.

“Are carriers looking at and planning ahead for additional non-stops? Absolutely,” he said.”Are we in a competitive environment where the carrier has a variety of options on where to place their aircraft? Absolutely. Do we want to be in the front of that line? The answer is yes.”