February 8, 2010
Support Nonstop Service for a Better Economy
The big storms this winter that shut down East Coast airports provided a great reminder of the importance of nonstop flights out of Portland. My young daughter is a great traveler but long delays in strange crowded airports are not fun for anybody in our family. Direct travel is also a great time saver. As someone who tries to eke every single minute out of every single day, I really appreciate the benefits of nonstop travel; as the Chairman of Multnomah County, I appreciate the good jobs and the accompanying vitality that international air service brings to our community.
I firmly believe that one of the best ways to make sure that we all prosper here is to support the companies and industries that provide good jobs. For business travelers, time is money and a city without nonstop flights is not a viable corporate location. The businesses which need those fast connections are overwhelmingly concentrated in what’s called the “traded sector,” and they are exactly the ones that bring new resources into our local economy.
Supporting the businesses that support the local economy is good for everybody. Economic growth increases the tax revenue that pays for our schools, our public safety system and the services that help the most vulnerable people in our community. This air service provides an annual economic impact of more than $150 million and 2,000 jobs for our region.
Nonstop international flights provide ease and convenience to our overseas partners who need to conduct business in person. And hopefully, once someone visits our beautiful region for business, they will return again to tour at their leisure. The visitors spend money here and some of them decide to stay and bring more new investments to our community. This strong and vital connection with the world enriches us culturally as well as economically.
There is a wonderful synergy between business travelers and leisure travelers. Our combined purchasing power means that every year additional nonstop destinations are becoming available. So whether you are flying for fun or flying for business, it’s a good deal.
Ted Wheeler
Chair
Multnomah County
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