Watertown terminates contract with air service marketing consultant (Audio)

February 21, 2023
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT)–The city of Watertown has terminated its contract with an Indiana-based consulting company that was providing air service development and marketing services for Watertown Regional Airport.

The contract with Volaire Aviation of Fishers, Indiana was scheduled to run through May 31, 2024, but on Tuesday night, the city council terminated the contract just nine months into what was supposed to be a two year agreement.

City Engineer Heath VonEye….

Councilman Glen Vilhauer says the city is terminating the contract as the airport is coming off one of its worst performances in recent history. There were fewer than 800 passenger boardings in January…

Vilhauer then wondered how Watertown, in the short term, will market the airport without any consultant under contract….

Volaire was being paid $66,000 a year for their services, which will now end on February 28th following unanimous approval by the city council.