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Airport officials will now be able to offer prospective new airlines up to $300,000 in marketing assistance and will also have the option of waving landing fees for new air carriers for up to two years.

The airport’s former incentive program limited incentive fees to $95,000 per airline.

“We’re sending a message that we’re willing to share the risk” when new airlines make the decision to enter the Fresno marketplace, Kevin Meikle, Fresno’s aviation director, told city council members.

Meikle also said that the airport is specifically courting Southwest Airlines, who together with American Airlines, Delta and United, now control about 80 percent of the domestic market.

“We would love to have Southwest here,” Meikle said.

Fresno’s plan to beef up its airline assistance program was unveiled in early June at a meeting of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Council. The plan was profiled in the June 10 issue of The Business Journal. https://thebusinessjournal.com/news/transportation/22854-fresno-airport-officials-want-to-sweeten-new-carrier-incentives