Move Could Force Out Existing Company

The San Diego Regional Airport Authority is expected Monday to weigh a proposal by airport officials to get into the maintenance, parking, and refueling business for private aircraft, essentially taking over from the company currently providing those services at San Diego International.

JimsAir -- the fixed base operator that currently handles GA needs at the southern California airport -- is expected to fight the proposal before the committee, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

The idea stems from a separate proposal currently before the committee, that would relocate general aviation areas at the field in order to improve movement and safety on a taxiway.
A report prepared for the Regional Airport Authority states the organization could see "increased revenue opportunity" from taking over or sharing the workload JimsAir currently performs. Such a move would essentially put the airport in competition with the FBO.

Another option would be to open a second, competing fixed base operation at the field.

Bryan Enarson, VP of Development for San Diego Regional Airport Authority, said the committee is not prepared to recommend a course of action -- yet.

"We're trying to frame the policy questions," Enarson said. "The board will have to give us some direction on how to go forward and how they want to manage the [airport] capacity issue."

While a consultant for JimsAir said the company is willing to share the airport with a competing FBO, the company is fiercely opposed to an authority takeover from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Port Tenants Association, a group of businesses positioned around the airport.

JimsAir has also applied for an extension to its lease that would allow the company to upgrade and expand its facilities. Enarson stated any negotiations on that matter would have to wait until the decision on opening another FBO, or taking over from JimsAir, is resolved.

FMI: www.jimsair.com, www.san.org