St.George Metro:Official Development News Thread

[SLC Projects]

I've never been or seen the St. George's airport that they have now. Is it smaller then the new one getting built? Are there any pics of the old airport?

[skyguy414]

The current airport is landlocked on top of a mesa with a 6600' long runway with no room for expansion. The terminal is no bigger than an elementary school cafeteria. No real ammenities or anything. It's tiny.

The new airport will have a 9500' long runway with room to expand it to over 11000' and is also 50 feet wider allowing it to handle most any aircraft. The new terminal is small, but much bigger than the current one.

A not very good picture of current terminal: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...238.6,,1,-1.07

[delts145]

Utah’s SkyWest creates regional dynamo


By Paul Beebe
The Salt Lake Tribune

SkyWest Inc. has agreed to buy ExpressJet Holdings, a deal that fuses two of the largest regional carriers and forges the biggest fleet of airplanes in the country.

St. George-based SkyWest will pay $133 million in cash for ExpressJet, whose biggest operating unit is ExpressJet Airlines. The acquisition is expected to close some time in the fourth quarter, both companies said Wednesday.

“When you look at the [combination], this will now be a network of 696 aircraft flying approximately 4,000 total daily departures, approximately 350 cities served and carrying approximately 50 million annual passengers,” SkyWest Chief Financial Officer Brad Rich said in a conference call with analysts.

The deal calls for SkyWest subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines to acquire all of the shares of ExpressJet it doesn’t already own for $6.75 in cash. SkyWest and ExpressJet directors have already signaled their approval. ASA’s sister carrier, SkyWest Airlines, isn’t involved.

Notably, United Airlines and Continental Airlines also have signed on. In May, United’s parent company, UAL Corp., and Continental agreed to a $3 billion merger. More than 85 percent of ExpressJet’s flying is as a feeder airline for Continental. Both are based in Houston.

“It’s a good strategic move for SkyWest. It solidifies its position with the combined United-Continental merger, and it takes out what could be a competitor” in the future, said airline analyst Mike Boyd.

In February, Atlanta-based Atlantic Southeast began flying for United as United Express. Previously ASA flew only as Delta Connection for Delta Airlines.

SkyWest has tried to buy ExpressJet before. In 2008, the ExpressJet rejected a $3.50-per-share offer.

In an interview, Rich said SkyWest didn’t give up on ExpressJet, even while it was hunting across the airline industry for other ways to grow. That search included taking close looks at Mesaba and Compass airlines, which Delta sold last month.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for the quality of the ExpressJet operation, and of all the opportunities we’ve been looking at, we see ExpressJet as a real opportunity to utilize the strengths of SkyWest,” Rich said, ticking off its cash reserves, liquidity, access to inexpensively priced credit lines and “credibility” with its airline peers.

In his remarks to analysts, Rich repeatedly underscored his regard for ExpressJet, despite the red ink it has endured recently. The airline has racked up $191 million in losses since 2007.

SkyWest, by contrast, is profitable. On Wednesday, the company said its second-quarter earnings were $18.7 million on revenue of $649.8 million. A year earlier, it earned $26.2 million on revenue of $698.8 million. Its share closed up 11 cents Tuesday, at $12.52.

Profits fell 29 percent, even though passenger numbers jumped 7.2 percent. But the amount of money SkyWest collected from passengers fell 13 percent.

“This is in no way a transaction that is a fixer-upper kind of thing ... this is a highly respected, high-quality operation, which we believe is consistent with our existing commitment to service quality and excellence at both ASA and SkyWest Airlines,”Rich said.

SkyWest has seen the need to grow because regional airlines and the small aircraft they fly are a declining business.

“The core business is leasing small jets to major airlines. These small jets have declining economics. When oil prices get above $50 (a barrel), these regional jets get expensive to fly,” analyst Boyd said.

That said, SkyWest aims to be a survivor. Boyd said the company’s size is growing even as the industry shrinks.

“These are people who are looking way over the horizon. They understand better than anybody that there are going to be fewer and fewer players in that system, and they are going to be a survivor,” he said.

A look at ExpressJet Holdings

Subsidiary » ExpressJet Airlines provides commercial flights for Continental Express and United Express under contracts with Continental Airlines and United Airlines. Another business unit, ExpressJet Services, provides third-party maintenance and repair

Headquarters » Houston

Employees » 5,700

Aircraft » 244 Embraer regional jets (206 fly for Continental Express, 32 fly for United Express, six are charter aircraft)

History » ExpressJet began in 1986 when Continental Airlines bought several small regional airlines. Continental spun off ExpressJet in 2002

Initial public offering » In 2002 at $16 a share. On Wednesday, ExpressJet closed at $6.57, up $3.29 a share

[delts145]

Some get a sneak peek of new St. George airport

By Mark Havnes
The Salt Lake Tribune

St. George • Larry Bulloch’s vision of a St. George airport is soaring closer to reality, and he is proud to show it off as it nears completion.


(St. George city officials and members of the news media on Friday got a tour of the city's new airport, including the terminal building here, that is scheduled to open Jan. 13. Mark Havnes/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Bulloch, the city’s public works director, had that chance on Friday when several city officials and reporters got a sneak peek at the $160 million facility east of the city before its opening on Jan 13.

He said the Federal Aviation Administration is scheduled to conduct a flight check of the airport Aug. 31 as part of its certification process.

He said safety is the main reason for the replacement airport. The current one — it has been in use since the 1930s — is on a plateau with no place to grow.

Bulloch said the special waivers from the FAA for issues regarding safety are the only reason the current one is still active.

The new airport has been in the works for more than 20 years, receiving the final go-ahead from the FAA in 2007, with construction beginning in October 2008.

“It has been continuous,” said Bulloch of the construction, adding that the project has involved 45 contractors and the moving of 4.5 million cubic yards of earth.

He said the project’s economic benefits have rippled through the city of 85,000 residents, from suppliers to support staff and even to delivery people.

The federal government is paying 80 percent of the cost, leaving the city’s portion at $34 million. The city’s tab will be covered by bonds and sale of the present airport property — considered prime real estate — expected to bring in about $42 million.

Airport Manager Rick Grosman said the new facility will have a 9,350-foot-long asphalt runway that in the future can be extended to 11,000 feet. It will be able to accommodate jets as large as the 737s and some Airbus charter jets, which the present airport cannot handle.

The new facility also will lease ground space for 60 hangars that private pilots can have built.

Workers on Friday were putting the finishing touches on the new terminal building. It will have a garden area with a waterfall feature and an observation deck.

City Councilman Jon Pike said the airport will handle the southern Utah city’s needs for the next two decades.

At present, the only regional carrier using current airport facilities in St. George is SkyWest Airlines. It offers seven flights a day to and from Salt Lake City on weekdays and five on weekends.

Company spokeswoman Marissa Snow, said the number of flights at the new airport will be dictated by demand, including the addition of jet aircraft if needed.

“We’re prepared to meet more options for growth in the community and if that means bringing in jets, we'll look at that, she said.


(Rick Grosman(cq) St>George airport manager at end of new9,350-foot runway Friday that will start landing planes in January. Mark Havnes/The Salt Lake Tribune


(Machine on Friday speead fresh asphalt for taxi way that will be part of St. George's new airport. Mark Havnes/The Salt Lake Tribune)

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[SLC Projects]

That wasn't much of a sneak peek. The Tribune only shared three photos and two of them were the runway.

[skyguy414]

Taken about 3 weeks ago. Photo's from www.sguconstruction.com by David Becker












Fire station

[TonyAnderson]

Coming along nicely.

[NYC Rick]

Very few airports on this earth have that kind of setting. Very cool!

[H4vok]

Construction wrapping up at new St. George airport

ST. GEORGE -- The biggest construction project in St. George's history is all but finished. The old airport sits on top of the bluff, too small for a 747. The new airport is five times larger and can accommodate commercial jets. That alone will please many travelers. article

[wrendog]

Still wish the new airport had added jetways. Will be interesting to see what new service, if any, comes to SGU....

[delts145]

Utah Adding 14th Ski Resort

Beaver, UT - Eagle Point ski area is slated to open this winter on the site of the former Elk Meadows Ski Resort
east of Beaver, once again giving Utah its 14th ski and snowboard resort.


Eagle Point Ski Resort

Officials have spent the past month flooding online and print publications with postings for jobs ranging from ski patrol
to customer service, signaling that ski operations will resume this winter high in Beaver Canyon.

Utah's defunct Elk Meadows ski area will be reborn this winter as Eagle Point.

The mountain's new owners, private equity firm XE Capital Management, have quietly spent the summer reviving
and recertifying ski lifts, clearing runs of overgrown brush and remodeling lodges.

Elk Meadows was one of only two ski areas in southern Utah, the other being Brian Head Resort, when it shut down in
2002. The owner at that time, Wayne Case of Portland, Ore., filed for bankruptcy protection and the ski area went
dormant. Subsequent efforts to transform the property into an ultra-luxury, über-exclusive property to be called the
Mt. Holly Club drew the ire of local residents and Elk Meadows homeowners alike. Those plans offered by Craig Burton,
the president of Holladay, Utah-based CPB Development, ultimately failed amidst the current economic downturn, and
CPB put the property on the Internet auction block in November 2009. XE Capital Management, which was actually
involved in the development of the Mt. Holly Club, entered the $1.9 million winning bid.

For 25 years, Elk Meadows was a hidden stash in the Tushar Mountains west of Beaver for skiers and snowboarders
looking to escape the crowds of Salt Lake City and Park City in northern Utah. However, its location -- nearly four
hours south of Salt Lake and a 90-minute drive past Brian Head for Las Vegas skiers -- left the mountain with less
than 20,000 skier visits annually in its later years.

The ski area has six fixed-grip lifts spanning 1,300 vertical feet. Lacking snowmaking, the resort relies entirely upon
natural snowfall.


www.skimap.org - The 36 trails in the resort cater for all ability levels with 20% being beginner,
50% intermediate and 30% for expert skiers over the 400 skiable acres. Eagle Point is three and a half hours from both
Las Vegas and Salt Lake City and around seven hours from Southern California and Phoenix.


Former Elk Meadows to open as Eagle Point ski area in Utah

By Mike Gorrell
The Salt Lake Tribune

After being dormant for eight seasons — and going through a contentious period when it was promoted as an
exclusive private resort — the former Elk Meadows Ski Resort east of Beaver plans to reopen this winter as Eagle
Point.

“Our goal is to be family friendly, deliver outstanding dining,amenities and service, and appeal to those who might
be looking to get away from the crowds,” said CEO Shane Gadbaw.

He acquired the resort in a bankruptcy proceeding involving the would-be developers of Mount Holly Resort. They had
hoped to turn the southwestern Utah resort into a gated community with a private ski resort and a Jack Nicklaus golf
course, but encountered financial difficulties and resistance from many property owners.

Gadbaw intends to open the ski area Dec. 15, weather permitting. He said daily lift tickets will cost $45 for adults, and
$32 for seniors and children. The resort will have 36 runs covering 400 skiable acres, served by one quad chairlift, one
triple chair and two double chairs.

The resort is almost equidistant between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, about 210 miles away.




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[SLCdude]

I like how all of the runs are named after songs

[delts145]

lighthouse-products.com

Litehouse to open Hurricane plant

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...ane-plant.html

HURRICANE — Food manufacturer Litehouse Inc. announced plans to build a new facility in Hurricane — an expected investment of more than $10 million that will add 162 new full-time jobs in the rural southern Utah community...

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[delts145]

Originally Posted by SLCdude

I like how all of the runs are named after songs

This ski area and the Tusher Mountains really is one of Utah's hidden gems. The secret probably won't stay that way
much longer.



Tusher Mtn. Scene

The Tushar Range is located in central Utah. Beaver, Piute and Garfield Counties.
Delano Peak (the highest) 12,169, Mount Baldy, Mount Belknap, Gold Mountain, and Copper Belt Peak area.

Pic by Utah-Dave

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[delts145]

Finally, jet service between SLC and St. George

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/5...t-jet.html.csp

SkyWest Airlines will replace turboprop flights with first-ever jet service between Salt Lake City and its St. George hometown in January, shortening flight times by 15 to 18 minutes to just one hour.

The start of the new service is effective Jan. 13. It coincides with the opening of the new St. George municipal airport on the same day...


(Paul Fraughton | The Salt Lake Tribune) Delta Connection jets at Salt Lake City International Airport in August.
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[John Martin]

It's appropriate that they should open on my birthday.

[SLC Projects]

I always thought we already had SkyWest Airlines service between SLC and St. George at their old airport all this time. This just shows just how far behind Utah is as a state that it's 2010 and we are now just getting this kind of service between the two metros. I can't believe it took this long.

[delts145]

It isn't the service that didn't exist, but turboprop instead of jet. Turboprop is pretty common amongst most municipal feeders. Still, the new airport itself is definitly overdue. The new airport will facilitate the next growth cycle in St. George a lot better. We can expect St. George to become a bonified metro for sure now.

[skyguy414]

Good to see they have finally announced the jet service. This not only is showing a commitment from Skywest but from Delta as well as they dictate where skywest flies their jets. Skywest's turbo prob flights are all at risk to themselves, meaning skywest takes on all costs for the route and takes any losses. Now that they are flying the jets, Delta will be the ones who will pay for all costs and collect all revenue and skywest will be paid a contracted fee for operating the flights, just like how most of skywest flights are.

But yes, SLC and St. George have been connected by skywest flights for over 35 years, just never on jets. They had teamed up with Western Airlines in the early 80's and then Delta in the late 80's (when delta bought Western) to become a Delta Connection operator.

The downside of the news is there will be a reduced number of flights per day between the cities. As it is right now, there are seven 30-seat turbo prop flights per day from SLC to St. George. Now it goes down to three flights but with 50 seat jets. There will aslo be 1 30 seat turbo prop flight for a total of four flights per day and 3 on the weekends. So the number of flights is less and even the number of seats is less. But I thinik this will change once summer comes along. Plus I am quite sure we'll see some other carriers interested (US Airways Express and American Eagle) plus the return of United Express to St. Greorge now that they have an airport that can accomodate jets.

Anyway, here are the most recent shots from the nearly complete airport. All were taken from the main website (www.sguconstruction.com), so credit to them.

[wrendog]

Nice to hear about jet service. Any word on service to new cities?