Iowa airline will put hand out again to Legislature

The Iowa-based, start-up airline “AccessAir” will likely ask the state for money to keep the airline afloat. There’s a private meeting today to review the airline’s business plans. Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, says it won’t be easy for the state to advance the airline taxpayer dollars.Lamberti says legislators are willing to listen, but it won’t be easy to convince them to hand “AccessAir” a loan.Lamberti says it would be more likely to happen if “AccessAir” managers would offer some “security” for a state loan, like assets of the airline or Ruan Transportation, its new owner/manager.Two years ago, the Iowa Senate voted to give “AccessAir” a 10-million dollar state loan, but the Iowa House balked at the idea. “AccessAir” filed for bankruptcy in 1999. In 2000, Ruan stepped in with 13-million dollars cash to get the airline operating. On November 1st of last year, the Des Moines City Council approved a one million-dollar no-interest loan for the airline. “AccessAir” resumed flights November 15th.