Petters Aviation could be the next tenant of the Northwest Airlines Maintenance Facility, the city announced today.
On Thursday, the Duluth Economic Development Authority will consider a letter of intent calling for Petters Aviation to spend up to 120 days on a feasibility study and up to an additional 60 days to negotiate a final lease on the maintenance base, which has stood empty for nearly two years. Petters would pay DEDA $15,000 per month to reimburse the authority's cost to maintain the facility during negotiations.
Northwest Airlines once employed 350 people there, but the base essentially has sat idle since August 2005, when members of the Aircraft Maintenance Fraternal Association went on strike.
"We're very excited about the real possibility of bringing Petters Aviation here," Mayor Herb Bergson said in a news release. "They have a great reputation within the industry and have the capability to fully utilize the building. I'm very hopeful an agreement can be reached."
Petters Aviation would use the facility as an aircraft completion center and possibly for airplane maintenance.
ADVERTISEMENT
Petters became the first domestic customer for the Airbus A318 business jet. It is part of Petters Group Worldwide, a private company.
