By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Former Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano returned to City Hall on Feb. 14 to speak to city council members about re-establishing commercial air service for Del Rio.
American Airlines, which began flights between Del Rio and Dallas in 2018, recently announced it would end commercial air service to Del Rio International Airport in April.
Since the announcement, city elected and business leaders have begun efforts to retain or recruit a new airline service to the community.
“I just wanted to make a comment about the aviation industry, and I want to applaud the council and the city staff who are continuing to advocate for the continued service to the city of Del Rio, Texas, and to ensure, like our taxpaying citizens here, that the investment of this airline industry into our community will have many economic benefits, and I want to applaud all the council members who are continuing to support this investment in our community,” Lozano told the council.
“Secondly, I want to applaud you for advocating for potential future airlines. It is national public information that we are experiencing a pilot shortage. I’ve been working in the aviation industry for the last 15 years, and I’ve never seen anything on this unprecedented level, as far as not having enough pilots to staff our aircraft,” the former mayor added.
He elaborated that regional airlines are feeling the brunt of the pilot shortage.
“However, I know that airlines are enticing more future pilots to invest in the industry itself. That being said, regional airlines are taking the brunt hit of pilot recruitment due to the fact that they are not mainline airlines, and so SkyWest Airlines, which is my former company, actually the operator of the airline into Del Rio, and I just want to be an advocate on the city’s behalf behind the scenes, ensuring that we are communicating with the president’s office,” Lozano said.
“I was able to speak with (the office of) intergovernmental affairs about the importance of this lifeline and connection to national security as far as the immigration crisis goes in our community but also more importantly to our federal contracts the Air Force, the Border Patrol, DHS, CBP and the recruitment for their agencies, and also ensuring that we’re communicating to DHS (the Department of Homeland Security) through Secretary Mayorkas’ office and through the Department of Transportation through Secretary Buttigieg’s office,” Lozano added.
“I also want to ensure that, if you haven’t done so already, the citizens listening out there, to continue using the service here in Del Rio up until the last date to ensure American Airlines that we are a community that is fruitful in its investments and that we will continue to recruit other airlines should there be a shortfall,” Lozano said.
—
Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
NEWS — Former mayor comments to council about airlines
By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Former Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano returned to City Hall on Feb. 14 to speak to city council members about re-establishing commercial air service for Del Rio.
American Airlines, which began flights between Del Rio and Dallas in 2018, recently announced it would end commercial air service to Del Rio International Airport in April.
Since the announcement, city elected and business leaders have begun efforts to retain or recruit a new airline service to the community.
“I just wanted to make a comment about the aviation industry, and I want to applaud the council and the city staff who are continuing to advocate for the continued service to the city of Del Rio, Texas, and to ensure, like our taxpaying citizens here, that the investment of this airline industry into our community will have many economic benefits, and I want to applaud all the council members who are continuing to support this investment in our community,” Lozano told the council.
“Secondly, I want to applaud you for advocating for potential future airlines. It is national public information that we are experiencing a pilot shortage. I’ve been working in the aviation industry for the last 15 years, and I’ve never seen anything on this unprecedented level, as far as not having enough pilots to staff our aircraft,” the former mayor added.
He elaborated that regional airlines are feeling the brunt of the pilot shortage.
“However, I know that airlines are enticing more future pilots to invest in the industry itself. That being said, regional airlines are taking the brunt hit of pilot recruitment due to the fact that they are not mainline airlines, and so SkyWest Airlines, which is my former company, actually the operator of the airline into Del Rio, and I just want to be an advocate on the city’s behalf behind the scenes, ensuring that we are communicating with the president’s office,” Lozano said.
“I was able to speak with (the office of) intergovernmental affairs about the importance of this lifeline and connection to national security as far as the immigration crisis goes in our community but also more importantly to our federal contracts the Air Force, the Border Patrol, DHS, CBP and the recruitment for their agencies, and also ensuring that we’re communicating to DHS (the Department of Homeland Security) through Secretary Mayorkas’ office and through the Department of Transportation through Secretary Buttigieg’s office,” Lozano added.
“I also want to ensure that, if you haven’t done so already, the citizens listening out there, to continue using the service here in Del Rio up until the last date to ensure American Airlines that we are a community that is fruitful in its investments and that we will continue to recruit other airlines should there be a shortfall,” Lozano said.
—
Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
Brian
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