Could airport funds create a monopoly?

A consortium of regional partners, including the city of Columbia, MU, Jefferson City and the Tri-County Lodging Association, have agreed to ante up some $2 million in seed money to lure a major airline to provide two daily, nonstop, one-hour jet flights \from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Columbia Regional Airport starting in June 2008 with fares that are comparable to those from O’Hare to St. Louis. This $2 million pot would cover any losses sustained by the unnamed airline. This group initiative is a promising short-term plan to bring much needed, more dependable jet service to and from the airport.