San Jose to waive $3.2 million in fees for airlines reeling from the pandemic
By MAGGIE ANGST | mangst@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: August 7, 2020 at 5:57 a.m. | UPDATED: August 7, 2020 at 2:51 p.m.
In an attempt to encourage airlines hobbled by the coronavirus pandemic to continue flying out of San Jose after struggling for years to land them in the first place, the city is waiving almost $3.2 million in fees.
The city’s decision to grant fee waivers comes as some U.S. lawmakers are pushing for a new round of federal bailouts for the aviation industry — on top of the $25 billion in federal payroll assistance handed out in mid-April.
“Given the unprecedented and enormous nature of the pandemic, we recognize a need to put some skin in the game,” said Scott Wintner, director of marketing & communications at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. “We want to demonstrate to our air carrier partners that we’re vested in their successful return to the San Jose airport.”
Seven airlines that provided intercontinental routes from the San Jose airport before the pandemic — Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, ANA Airways, British Airways, Southwest Airlines, Volaris Airlines and Hainan Airlines — will get…