(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Next week there is an opportunity to shape the discussion about the future of service out of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. The airport authority will be talking about pitches made by Air Wisconsin, Breeze Airways, Contour Airlines, Denver Air Connection and SkyWest, and they want to hear from you, too.

Even if you’ve never taken advantage of this wonderful transportation option in our own backyard, this is the start of your chance to talk to the airport authority about why — and whether one of the bids piques your interest enough to change that.

“We are inviting the public in for discussion,” said Airport Manager Ben Auville. “It is mostly to get information out there and ask what the five different bidders brought forth.

“We are only limited to what is in the bid packages,” he said. “This will be to help shape some people’s understanding on what we are actually wanting feedback on and what these packages do entail.”

This is a region-wide conversation. More than 600 people have already reached out to let the airport authority know what they’d like to see from the airlines. This meeting and others will help focus that discussion to what’s truly on the table, rather than focusing on an unrealistic wish list.

To be part of shaping the recommendation the airport authority sends to the U.S. Department of Transportation, attend the meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the main terminal.

“We want to best represent what it is that people here want as far as where they travel,” Auville said.

They can’t do that without hearing from the traveling public. Don’t miss your chance to become part of the conversation.