The Legislature finds that: (1) Nebraska is a large state with great distances between rural and urban areas and needs air transportation to better link such areas;
(2) There is a serious problem affecting commercial aviation and its availability to the citizens of the State of Nebraska;
(3) Many intrastate air travelers must pass through an out-of-state hub to reach another destination in Nebraska;
(4) Airline deregulation has had a significant impact on states such as Nebraska in the reduction of the availability of intrastate commercial airline service to Nebraska citizens;
(5) The significant reduction in intrastate commercial airline service and the increased cost of such service has an adverse effect upon the development of the state's resources, the improvement of the state's economic facilities, and the state's ability to expand upon its program of economic development;
(6) Resolution of the serious and significant problem regarding intrastate commercial airline service cannot be corrected or alleviated without public assistance in the development of an intrastate commercial airline providing intrastate service between Nebraska communities; and
(7) It will economically benefit the people of the State of Nebraska to foster and encourage a public-private partnership in the development of airline properties and facilities and the conduct of intrastate commercial airline service.
