FloridaLarry
Well-Known Member
The city of Vero Beach (FL) kicked Elite Airtways out of the City-operated airport (VRB) last night. The vote came out of frustration that Elite hadn't paid a dollar on their rent & fees since January, which had climbed to $34,924.24 as of April 1st.
This comes after several months of frustration between the two. Successful passenger levels had kicked the airport into a higher bracket with the State of Florida, meaning that the state's percentage of improvements was reduced seriously. Appeals had produced a three-year phase-in of the lower reimbursements, and discussions continued to find a better solution. Last month, a proposal by the airport's board to end Elite's contract with the City over the unpaid bills failed in the City Council.
Elite had flown from Vero Beach to Newark, their most heavily-travelled route, since 2015. Service on that route had been halted temporarily due to the Covid-19 epicenter in New York-New Jersey. Other destinations had included Portland ME and Asheville NC, some seasonal.
Elite's President, John Pearsall, said this would lead to furloughs. Elite's two-county workforce was about 240, since much of their operational management, including crew bases, was in Melbourne, FL on and near MLB. 41 miles north.
This comes after several months of frustration between the two. Successful passenger levels had kicked the airport into a higher bracket with the State of Florida, meaning that the state's percentage of improvements was reduced seriously. Appeals had produced a three-year phase-in of the lower reimbursements, and discussions continued to find a better solution. Last month, a proposal by the airport's board to end Elite's contract with the City over the unpaid bills failed in the City Council.
Elite had flown from Vero Beach to Newark, their most heavily-travelled route, since 2015. Service on that route had been halted temporarily due to the Covid-19 epicenter in New York-New Jersey. Other destinations had included Portland ME and Asheville NC, some seasonal.
Elite's President, John Pearsall, said this would lead to furloughs. Elite's two-county workforce was about 240, since much of their operational management, including crew bases, was in Melbourne, FL on and near MLB. 41 miles north.
