Two Oklahoma cities consider subsidies for airline

UNDATED (AP) _ Mesa Airlines is asking two Oklahoma towns and one in Texas to provide money for a subsidy so the airline can continue getting federal assistance. <br/><br/>Airline officials are asking

Tuesday, August 24th 2004, 11:59 am

By: News On 6

UNDATED (AP) _ Mesa Airlines is asking two Oklahoma towns and one in Texas to provide money for a subsidy so the airline can continue getting federal assistance.

Airline officials are asking officials in Enid, Ponca City and Brownwood, Texas, for between $64,000 and $84,000.

Mesa officials say the subsidies are needed so the airline can continue receiving federal Essential Air Service funds.

So far, Brownwood is the only community to approve a subsidy to Mesa while Enid and Ponca City residents report poor reliability from the airline.

Enid is still considering the matter. Ponca City Manager Gary Martin says his city doesn't plan to subsidize Mesa's flights, but some local officials plan to help Mesa with advertising and marketing.