Maryland’s Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved a $5.5 million annual subsidy to keep British Airways flying out of Baltimore.
Under the agreement, Maryland’s transportation improvement will guarantee the airline an operating margin of $5.5 million each year, said Timothy Campbell, executive director of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Officials said they were concerned BWI would no longer be international without their help.
Currently, international flights from Baltimore are offered only by British Airways, which travels to London’s Heathrow Airport; Air Canada; Air Jamaica; and USA 3000, which serves the Caribbean. The airport lost flights to Africa in May, and Icelandair pulled out in January.
Gov. Martin O’Malley, who serves on the board along with Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot, called Heathrow a “lifeline to a growing number of Maryland businesses.”
“This is a critical economic development investment, particularly in these tough economic times,” O’Malley said.
Franchot was the only member to vote against the agreement. He called the agreement a “subsidy without end.”
