Opinions? - Blaine From: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/14701148.htm Airport proceeds with incentive plan to increase traffic By Nicole Lee nlee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:nlee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> A program to offer financial incentives to airlines that lower their fares at Fort Wayne International Airport was unanimously approved Tuesday. Ultimately, airport officials hope the incentives increase traffic. Under the Traffic & Revenue Improvement Plan (TRIP) slated to effect by July 1, any existing carriers that increase the number of passengers between 5 and 20 percent could be reimbursed for various airport fees. Currently, carriers pay more fees when they increase their traffic. The new plan also allows airport-related charges to be excused for two years for new carriers and for one year to existing carriers that add new non-stop routes. Airport fees that passengers pay will not be affected. In April , the number of people flying out of Fort Wayne was down 20 percent, said Dave Young, vice president of service development. Including incoming passengers, the numbers are down 26 percent. According to airport research, 55 percent of passengers who should be flying out of Fort Wayne aren?t. Indianapolis is the biggest draw, siphoning 31 percent of the potential market. Airport officials had hoped to board 355,000 passengers this year, a standard 10 percent increase over 2005. At current projections, the airport could fall short by 75,000 passengers. Barring any legal tangles, TRIP would represent a policy change, said Young, allowing the airport authority to discontinue the plan at any time. ?I think this is a great first step,? said Michael Gouloff, airport authority president, adding that airport staff should also craft additional long-term strategies to keep airline fees low while increasing traffic. The airport authority also approved Tuesday a memorandum of understanding to allow American Medical Response, the city?s contracted ambulance service, to park some of its vehicles at Smith Field Airport to ensure ambulances are available for public events. /Reporter Ryan Lengerich contributed to this report./