The city of Cortez is holding a public meeting on Monday to gather residents’ feedback on Boutique Air, which serves the Cortez Municipal Airport.
Boutique Air has served as Cortez’s sole airline provider since 2016, when the City Council approved a two-year Essential Air Service contract with the company. That contract will run out on Sept. 30, but Airport Manager Russ Machen said no other companies have submitted bids to replace Boutique. City Manager Shane Hale said Monday’s forum will feature a presentation from Boutique’s CEO, Shawn Simpson, as well as a chance for city residents to voice concerns about the airline’s services.
Part of the meeting will focus on Boutique’s plans to expand its Cortez services, Hale said. He said the company is considering the addition of two or three flights to Las Vegas per week. Right now, the airline only offers flights to Denver and Phoenix.
Simpson said in December that Cortez is one of his company’s busiest airports. As of April, he said, most flights from the airport have been 70 to 80 percent full.
But the airline has run into some turbulence since it started serving Cortez. After it dramatically increased its prices last summer, dropping the introductory fares that started at $59 for a ticket to Denver, Boutique’s ticket sales in Cortez went down. In February, the airline had its highest number of cancellations for a single month since it started serving Cortez, which Simpson blamed on bad weather and mechanical problems.
Hale said Monday’s meeting will include a question-and-answer session with Simpson, in which residents can offer feedback on Boutique’s services.
Machen said the meeting won’t affect the city’s decision on whether to renew Boutique’s contract, which he called “a done deal.” But he said it will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the service.
“I’m hoping for a good turnout from the public, and a good exchange with the CEO so he can explain their plans for the future,” he said.
The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall. It will also be streamed live on the city of Cortez’s website.