“We are losing fuel sales. Our student pilots have to interrupt their training. This is affecting trade. It is highly disruptive. But it is understandable,” says Jourdi De Werd, president of Santa Yanez Airport.
The president of Santa Yanez Airport, Jourdi De Werd, told me that the temporary five-day flight restriction on all private flights in the region this week was due to a presidential visit.
“This will have a big impact on our revenues because we sell a lot of fuel. And that means that after today, no one will be flying for five days,” says De Werd.
How much fuel?
“You know, we typically sell about $750,000 worth of fuel a year,” says De Werd.
This means the airport will lose about $10,275 in revenue this week. In Santa Barbara, airport officials tell me that commercial and cargo flights will not be affected. De Werd tells me every time a TFR is issued, some people don’t comply, and that could be expensive.
“They can alert the jets and then force you to land somewhere and then you’re in big trouble,” says De Werd.
Just down the street in Solvang, local, family-run Solvang Trolley Ice Cream is no stranger to VIP customers.
“The Kardashians came, Anne Hathaway, and our favorite was Taylor Swift. She really enjoyed her pumpkin spice ice cream,” says Clau Orona, co-owner of Solvang Trolley Ice Cream.
This mother-daughter team knows ice cream and customers, even presidents…
“I have a feeling he would like the sweet cream brownie caramel,” says Orona.
The President and First Lady are expected to arrive at the Santa Barbara airport around 2 a.m. Tuesday and will travel to Santa Yanez shortly thereafter. The President and First Lady have no official appearances planned during their stay in Santa Barbara County.
