AHUMADA OPENS THE FLY FRONTERA DEBATE TO THE PUBLIC

By Juan Montoya

Frustrated that the proposal to establish a regional airline with Brownsville as its hub and Tampico and Monterrey as the main spokes had been monopolized by a vocal minority, Mayor Pat Ahumada has called for a town hall meeting open to the public.

Ahumada made the announcement during a press conference Friday. It is scheduled for f 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Amigoland Event Center, 1010 Mexico Blvd, Section 3.

Ahumada called on members of the business community, taxi drivers, and "anyone who supports or opposes passenger service to Mexico, or this particular company."

On April 5, the commissioners voted to delay their vote for 25 days a vote on whether to sign a contract with Charter Air Transport and Public Charters Inc., the firms behind Fly Frontera. The onslaught against the airline was led by a group of local bloggers who insinuated that the Fly Frontera deal was somehow rigged. Ahumada said they had bad-mouthed the Fly Frontera deal without being fully informed.

“However well intentioned they may be, they are dictating the future of Brownsville in a very irresponsible way, in my opinion,” Ahumada said during his press conference.

Critics had questioned the "rush" with which the Fly Frontera proposal had been handled by the airport, the city and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation. They said that – while they didn't have any specific proof of wrongdoing – they suspected something "fishy" had occurred.

Fly Frontera president Jim Gallagher attended the April 5 meeting and while he didn't address the commissoners then, provided a chronology of the company's proposal through the city's vetting process.

"Everything was done above board," he said outside the commission chambers. "This didn't happen overnight. But it is futile to argue against a dedicated group of conspiracy buffs. Their minds were made up and nothing was going to change their viewpoints."

Instead, he said, he will provide the public facts that will counter the unsubstantiated allegations against him, his representatives, and his company. "This is how we got to this point," he said. "We started the formal process in front of a public board composed of local citizens. We didn't sneak in through any back door. If people will take the time to read their boards' minutes, they will see that we have been above board at every turn. We feel this is a win-win situation for everyone involved and provide a critically-needed service that will also provide an infusion of capital and visitors to Brownsville."

He said that the recent events in northern Mexico such as the discover of mass graves with victims that had been pulled from cars and buses traveling on highways between Tampico and Matamoros pointed to the critical need for an alternative method of transportation.

"Many businesses with employees in Brownsville and Matamoros need a safe, secure method of transportation," said Gallagher. "We will gladly show the public their letters of support and enthusiasm for our proposal."

Gallagher said Fly Frontera initial appearance was before the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport Advisory Board to discuss the service options to Monterrey and Tampico. "The members of the board, after considering our financial analysis, determined that the best way to gain the most advantages in fuel savings and operating costs to provide a low-cost ticket was to recommend that our company, Public Charters Inc., provide the service with an aircraft that met the specifications of the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation," he emailed a response to questions from Rrun-Rrun.

"That was the EMB-20 "Brasilia" aircraft with 30 seats," he said. "On March 15, we brought that aircraft and provided an introductory flight to 23 passengers including board members and some city commission members," Gallagher added.

"That evening, the commissioners voted 6-1 for the airport board to seek funding for the project."

Gallagher said that on March 24, The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC) voted unanimously to provide 50 percent of the incentives being requested to launch the project. Then, on April 4, the airport advisory board voted unanimously to recommend the project to the city commission for the other 50 percent.

Then, at the meeting Tuesday, the commissioners voted to undertake a comprehensive examination before a final vote.

"We have carefully followed every step and complied with every guideline in presenting our proposal before your city representatives," Gallagher wrote. "We welcome the opportunity to explain our proposal before a fair and open-minded citizenry."