SAFFORD — Safford Airport operations is asking for an additional $655,000 to keep commercial air service operating between Safford and Phoenix through June 2026.
During Monday’s Safford City Council, Airport officials will give a presentation on why the additional funding is needed.
In January, Safford contracted with Scenic Airlines to provide twice-daily roundtrips between Safford and Phoenix, following the city receiving an $800,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant and a $100,000 grant from Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. The city provided $150,000 to ensure the revenue guarantee to Scenic Airlines was met, as well as market the availability of air service.
However, in what Airport officials say are “a variety of factors,” the funds are being used at a more rapid rate than originally planned and there remains just $95,000 to keep air service in operation.
To reduce costs, Airport officials said the number of flights has been cut in half, just to one round-trip per day.
To ensure service remains in place through Fiscal Year 2025-26, officials have submitted for a $200,000 grant from United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, as well as ask the City Council for the $655,000.
Airport officials said they’ve also created a consortium of rural airports that are seeking establishment of a State Air Service Program through the Arizona Office of Tourism that would help subsidize commercial air service to rural airports throughout the state.
During the state Transportation Board meeting in Safford on Aug. 15, Airport Manager Cameron Atkins asked ADOT to also help the consortium.
The City Council will act on the request during the regular meeting Monday, at 6 p.m., in the Safford Library’s programming room.
