Fairhope Airport Operations Lease Dispute Over

Fairhope, Alabama 

 

November airport authority meeting.

SETTLEMENT REACHED

The Fairhope Airport Authority has settled its lawsuit against H.L.Sonny Callahan airport operator Continental Aerospace.

The December 2021 lawsuit alleged various shortcomings by Continental concerning its FBO (fixed base operator) lease agreement with the authority, including: failure to secure proper insurance and inadequate fuel farm maintenance; failure to install required office/hangar space; et al.

Also, the Authority's lawsuit cited Continental's decision to renege on a mutual agreement dated August 24, 2021 to voluntarily end their operator's lease on June 30, 2022.

Generally, according to the October 2022 authority meeting minutes, the settlement involves a new two-year lease with Continental starting October 15, 2022, and continuing negotiations about the terms for the north hangar ... and after two years will need to vacate the T-hangars, FBO, and two adjacent hangars ... and consolidate to the north hangar ... or leave the airport altogether. There will also be shared cost for building maintenance/repairs, a $200 cap on surcharges for engines, and a cap on T-hangar rental rates.

During its regular November 16th meeting, authority attorney Myrick said the suit should be officially dismissed later in the week, after he files appropriate motions.

Authority member Don Lagarde told the Times he was "glad to have the matter behind us." We reached out for comment from councilman/authority member Burrell but never received a reply.

Lagarde was chairman of the authority for the past year but Chip Groner was elected to the position during their October meeting.


Continental aerospace offices.


Comments

Anonymous said…
When can the average citizen catch a plane at the Fairhope Airport.
Anonymous said…
When a passenger terminal is built there in two or three years maybe
Anonymous said…
It would be nice if the FBO had a CFI and plane rentals.
Anonymous said…
Praise the Lord!
Anonymous said…
Keep on pushing Continental and their owner China will pick up and move their operation somewhere else.