HENRICO COUNTY, Virginia – Virginia state lawmakers from both parties expressed concerns about Richmond International Airport’s (RIC) plans to take over the air services of two local companies.
For decades, Richmond Jet Center and Million Air Richmond have exclusively provided services such as fueling, de-icing and aircraft maintenance for the airport in eastern Henrico.
The two companies are called fixed-base operators or FBOs.
At the July meeting of the Capital Region Airport Commission, RIC President and CEO Dr. Perry Miller said the community deserves better services as the airport looks to offer more flights and invest in infrastructure. However, the two companies said they have never received any complaints or feedback on areas for improvement from Dr. Miller or the airport.
On August 15, U.S. Representative Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) sent a letter to the commission questioning the commission’s actions over the past two years.
“Recent news reports indicate that the Commission has issued requests for proposals from FBO service companies twice in the past two years. Ultimately, the Commission rejected both requests for proposals without providing a clear justification for the deficiencies in the proposals,” wrote Rep. McClellan.
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McClellan noted that the process “has not received adequate public scrutiny and has been hampered by a lack of transparency.”
The Richmond Jet Center invited CBS 6’s Brendan King for a behind-the-scenes look at its operations Tuesday morning.
That same day, Virginia Senate Minority Leader and Senator Ryan McDougle (R – Hanover) toured the Henrico County facility and also expressed concerns about the ongoing process.
“The airport commission has to make the decision that is best for the airport and the public. But when they make that decision, the public has to know why you are moving from a free market economy to government-led development. There may be reasons for it, but they have to be clear. It has to be transparent. The public and businesses have to be able to respond and know what those reasons are,” said Senator McDougle.
WTVR
Dr. Miller declined an interview with CBS 6 for this article. An airport spokesman said Dr. Miller will release new information on the airport’s plans and intentions on Wednesday.
The Capital Region Airport Commission vote is expected to take place on Tuesday, August 27.
CBS 6 wants to share the community’s voices on this important issue. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.
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