County Seeks Answer From Pan Am On Debt
BELLEVILLE, IL (July 21, 2001) -- County officials arfe trying to figure out why Pan American Airways hasn't paid its $115,000 debt to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
The airline is 120 days past due on $81,000 of that bill, which covers operating expenses such as landnig fees, cabin cleaning, fuel and other services at the airport.
Although the airline is paid up at two other airports and owes only $28,000 in back payments at a third, a county official said he does not think the airline is trying to take advantage of the county.
"I have no feelings like that at all," said Rich Sauget, chairman of the St. Clair County Public Building Commission, which must approve the airport's annual budget.
Sauget said the county does not know why PanAm is so far behind on its payments.
Sauget said Rick Hargrove, director of MidAmerica, was supposed to call airline officials Friday to find out why they hadn't paid their bills.
Hargrove could not be reached Friday for comment, but he previously has said he is not concerned about Pan Am's debt, because it is not unusual for airlines to owe money to airports.
Pan Am is paid up at the Orlando Sanford Airport in Florida and the Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, N.H. The airline has a $28,000 debt at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa. That debt is between 30 and 60 days past due, an official has said.
Bryant Garrett, vice president of finance for the Orlando Sanford Airport, has said any tenant at his airport would hear from the airport's attomey if it failed to pay a debt for 90 days, and it likely would face eviction if the debt went unpaid for 120 days.
Pan Am officials could not be reached for comment Thursday or Friday. The Public Building Commisaion discussed Pan Am's debt at a meeting Thursday.
Information provided by the Belleville News-Democrat
Emily Priddy Article © Belleville News-Democrat
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