S/HPNA

All Airport Stakeholders,

The San Jose City Council has scheduled a special study session to review the Airport’s current financial and competitive position. The session will be held next Monday, March 8, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and it will be held in the San Jose City Hall Council Chambers at 200 East Santa Clara Street in downtown San Jose. Study sessions give Councilmembers an in-depth review of complex issues and the opportunity to have longer and more focused discussions with staff and stakeholders. We encourage our community stakeholders and our airline and tenant partners to attend the study session or to watch it on-line on San Jose Civic Center TV. At this study session, Airport staff will review the following matters with the City Council:

• SJC’s current and projected financial situation that’s been affected by the economy and declining passenger traffic;
• The highly competitive business environment that the Airport operates in the Bay Region and the challenges we currently face to remain competitive;
• The state of the airline industry and the competitive factors that airlines consider in making air service decisions; and
• Budget and policy options for Council consideration this year and in the near-term future that could improve the Airport’s competitiveness.

We have provided the City Council and our community with a detailed overview that is posted on the City and Airport websites. You can access the overview memo at: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/Agenda/20100308/20100308_att1.pdf. Depending on Council direction, many of these options could affect our Airport employees, and some could represent a significant departure from how we have done business over the years. I encourage you to review the memo.

We will ask the Mayor and City Council for specific policy and budget direction that will maintain our ability to build and operate a world-class airport that is cost-competitive and attractive to bring more flights and service to SJC. With the approaching completion of our beautiful new airport this year, we will have the most modern and efficient airport in the nation that will provide genuine benefits to our airlines and passengers. We’re all very proud of this accomplishment. At the same time, unfortunately, we’re struggling with the severe recession and declining passenger traffic that has required us to reduce staff, cut programs, and defer projects.

I’m actually very confident that our future is bright for our new airport, but we have some stormy weather ahead in the next couple of years that will require painful decisions. We have a great team, and together we’ll weather this storm with your help, and with the help of our partners, community, and policy makers.

Bill

William F. Sherry, A.A.E

Director of Aviation

Mineta San Jose International Airport | City of San Jose

assistant: 408-501-7669 | fax: 408-573-1675

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | www.flysanjose.com