DBQ: TILTING AT WINDMILLS (January 2023)

I have written about air service at Dubuque (DBQ) many times. The trends in small community air service have been evident for a decade. The DBQs of the world are vulnerable to losing some/all air service. Particularly from the network carriers.

Recently AA left DBQ because of economic issues. We have suggested the ULCCs might very well be the commercial sector that serves many of these vacated airports. No, the service will not be 2-3 times per day to a hub, but rather 2-3 times per week to a leisure destination.

To DBQ's credit they found #AveloAirlines to serve Orlando. TSA/airport issues will delay the start. That is not what this post is about.

DON QUIXOTE

I love clever titles. Finding words that begin with letters E,A,S is easy. DBQ not so much. But the D and Q reminded me of Don Quixote (DQ). Been a very long time since I tried getting through that book. A little reminder research this morning turned into a college thing -reaching for crib notes.

DBQ reminds me a little of DQ - not fully. DQ was accused of "having gone mad from reading too many books about chivalrous knights and is determined to set off on a great adventure to win honor and glory". Read another way, DQ’s "good intentions do only harm to those he meets, since he is largely unable to see the world as it really is".

DBQ has avoided accepting the trend lines that have been staring at them. They have convinced anyone who will listen - in today's environment just give me money and I will find a political fix to our loss of network carrier service.

Book reviews say things like DQ's reading led to his inability to separate reality from fiction. Quixotic is sometimes used to describe DQ. The impractical pursuit of idealistic goals.

TILTING AT WINDMILLS

DQ battles windmills. He believed they were ferocious giants. When he rides his horse to fight them, he falls off realizing they are indeed windmills. He blames a magician for turning giants into windmills. This scene "resonates with us because many times people fight battles against the wrong enemy".

IS DBQ CONVINCING ITS COMMUNITY/POLITICIANS INTO BELIEVING NETWORK CARRIERS ARE THE ENEMY? - OR THAT TODAY'S REALITIES ARE JUST A FALSE NARRATIVE?

Under the pretense that a political fix to the problems facing small communities like DBQ, they have raised good money that will chase bad. Airports within a reasonable driving distance of an airport with better service will attract other community populations to use the facility.

In 90 minutes, DBQ will host a forum on air service. The professionals they have hired are a DC political firm #RaskyPartners and #GlobalFlightsSolutions, whose principal is best known for subsidizing airlines to serve Colorado ski destinations. I have land to sell too.

When are folks going to understand that there is no political fix and the DBQs of the world are not desired ski destinations where roads can be impassable and distances long?

A sad story indeed,