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KIRKSVILLE -- The month of September will mark the one-year anniversary of the partnership between Kirksville Regional Airport and Cape Air. 

The U-S Department of Transportation gave the city of Kirksville an ultimatum at the start of the partnership, saying that the city of Kirksville would need to increase ridership to bring down the per-passenger subsidy level to less than $200, as mandated by the Essential Air Service Program.

At the time, Kirksville was approaching $400.

Due to the success of the airport, reports from June 2011 report that the subsidy per-passenger had been decreased to $172, well clear of the D-O-T threshold.

Kirksville Regional Airport Manager David Hall said the partnership has been a great success.

"There has been a cooperative effort between the airport and airline. Lots of advertising on both ends. We have done everything we can to increase that ridership and make the community aware and its been very fruitful. We are very pleased with that," Hall said.

The Lambert St.Louis International Airport has had a great relatonship with the Kirksville Regional Airport.

In December, there will be an airside shuttle to assist passengers to the Southwest Airlines terminal without having to go back through security.