America's struggling airline industry needs more travelers in more seats going to more places. That eventually could determine success of Northwest Florida Regional Airport, Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport or Panama City-Bay County International Airport.
"When you have airports as close together as we are, the competition is there," said Frank Miller, the longtime boss at Pensacola's airport. "We're all going after the same passengers." Earlier this year, Pensacola added "Gulf Coast" to its name. It also has a $35 million expansion in progress.
In Valparaiso, the former Okaloosa Regional Airport now is Northwest Florida Regional.
And in Bay County, the $315 million airport scheduled for completion in 2010 has been trumpeting its "international" title for most of this year.
When you factor in the merger of Delta and Northwest airlines, it's been an interesting first year for Greg Donovan, Okaloosa County's airports director. "We need to have commercial service for military personnel, dependents and contactors. That's where the core value of our airport is," Donovan said. "The additional value is to help our region." For years, Northwest Florida Regional has been fighting the fact that people in Okaloosa County have been driving to Pensacola to get lower fares. But a recent Travelocity study of the top 20 destinations in this region shows that Northwest Florida Regional has lower fares to 11 of them. That includes Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Colo., Kansas City, Mo., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Tenn., Minneapolis, Orlando, San Francisco and St. Louis. And there are other numbers Donovan likes to share. In 2007, Northwest Florida Regional's cost per enplaned passenger was $3.90, well below the Florida airports' median cost of $5.34. Likewise, the airport's debt per enplaned passenger was $45. That again was below the Florida median of $46.43. And charting the 12 months from November 2007 to November 2008, Northwest Florida Regional was the only airport in Florida to have an increase (3.8 percent) in available seats. "We have that capacity, and I need people to use it," Donovan said. "We need to solidify a level of loyalty with people here looking at this airport as community resource instead of an institution on the Air Force base."
In Bay County, airport officials are placing most of their hopes in the 10,000-foot runway, which will be able to accommodate international flights. Once completed, the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport will be the largest in Northwest Florida. The airport is set to open in May 2010, and officials say they are working to secure a new legacy airline carrier, a discount carrier and FedEx.
In Pensacola, Miller was Donovan's boss for six-plus years. Miller said he considers Mobile, Ala., Regional Airport and Northwest Florida Regional as his main competition. He points to having low-cost carrier Air Tran as an advantage Northwest Florida Regional does not. And he admits everyone still is keenly interested in securing the big prize: Southwest Airlines. "Every airport wants a carrier like Southwest, and we've got a very strong business market here besides the leisure market," Miller said. "Anybody who would get Southwest would say it's a winner." Donovan says he's been talking with Southwest and will continue to do so. Meanwhile, a $14.7 million project under way will provide a new rental car facility on 20 acres east of the airport's terminal. The expansion, which will include a fuel farm for aircraft and rental cars and maintenance and cargo building, is expected to be completed in May 2009. But a $32 million terminal expansion has been put on hold because of the economic slump, Donovan said.
I live in Nashville. Generally fairs to the coast are $700+. Not sure about other markets. We need some competition in Panama City Beach to bring prices down and increase air traffic to the area. Hopefully the Bay County Airport can land Southwest and make it happen.
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Showing posts with label Airport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Airport. Show all posts
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Panama City Beach - Airport Update November 2008
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill promised Friday the new airport under construction near West Bay will draw several major airlines, including a "legacy" carrier and two international carriers.
A legacy carrier is one that revolves around a hub-and-spoke network and corporate structure, such as Delta, Northwest, American and United, airline experts say. Delta and Northwest, which are merging into one airline, already serve the existing airport.
The new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, with its 10,000-foot runway, will be the largest in Northwest Florida and also is poised to earn its "international" appellation, Tannehill told the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. Each of the international carriers will fly in once a week, he said. Airlines operating out of Bay County's new airport, set to open in May 2010, will not only include a legacy airline, but a discount carrier and a cargo carrier such as FedEx, Tannehill said. While legacy carriers usually include services such as first or business class and frequent flyer programs, discount carriers generally offer substantially lower fares by eliminating some traditional services, experts say.
Tannehill's comments came Friday as he gave chamber members an update of the airport's construction progress, including a slide show and short promotional video. More than 200 workers are toiling at the airport's site just north of County 388, he said. When completed, the project will have moved 4 million cubic yards of dirt and 500,000 cubic yards of "muck," Tannehill said. He said the $318-million project, which he called an "economic engine" that would fuel regional growth, would give the area a marketing strength it had not known in the past. In addition, the airport, with its 125,000-square-foot terminal, also would be the nation's first "green" carbon-neutral airport.
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A legacy carrier is one that revolves around a hub-and-spoke network and corporate structure, such as Delta, Northwest, American and United, airline experts say. Delta and Northwest, which are merging into one airline, already serve the existing airport.
The new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, with its 10,000-foot runway, will be the largest in Northwest Florida and also is poised to earn its "international" appellation, Tannehill told the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. Each of the international carriers will fly in once a week, he said. Airlines operating out of Bay County's new airport, set to open in May 2010, will not only include a legacy airline, but a discount carrier and a cargo carrier such as FedEx, Tannehill said. While legacy carriers usually include services such as first or business class and frequent flyer programs, discount carriers generally offer substantially lower fares by eliminating some traditional services, experts say.
Tannehill's comments came Friday as he gave chamber members an update of the airport's construction progress, including a slide show and short promotional video. More than 200 workers are toiling at the airport's site just north of County 388, he said. When completed, the project will have moved 4 million cubic yards of dirt and 500,000 cubic yards of "muck," Tannehill said. He said the $318-million project, which he called an "economic engine" that would fuel regional growth, would give the area a marketing strength it had not known in the past. In addition, the airport, with its 125,000-square-foot terminal, also would be the nation's first "green" carbon-neutral airport.
Getting closer all the time! Soon it will be easier for you to get to our Panama City Beach Condo at Celadon Beach Resort.
Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Panama City Beach Airoprt Update 10/12/08
Check out the pictures at the airport web site. Looks like construction in moving along.
The weather is great. Head to Panama City Beach for fall break. Need a Panama City Beach Condo? Check out Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Jerry
The weather is great. Head to Panama City Beach for fall break. Need a Panama City Beach Condo? Check out Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Jerry
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Panama City Beach - Airport - Aerotropolus
Panama City-Bay County International Airport officials want the new $330 million facility to be an "aerotropolis" that draws international flights and business to West Bay. To meet that goal, airport leaders are in discussions with several international carriers and have hired John Kasarda, a scholar, author and the man who coined the term "aerotropolis." Airport Executive Director Randy Curtis said airport officials are in talks with several airlines in Canada and England. He described the discussions as ongoing but declined to name the airlines.
Kasarda is "the pre-eminent expert on economic development around airports," Cramer said. "He's most noted ... for his development of the concept of the aerotropolis." On his Web site, Kasarda describes the aerotropolis as an engine for economic development that attracts aviation-linked businesses, including hotel, entertainment, retail and corporate headquarters. An aerotropolis stretches for 20 miles outward from the airport and will be similar to a traditional metropolis, Kasarda wrote.
On my way out of Panama City Beach on July 8th I drove by the new airport site. I spent a few minutes talking with the guys working on the entrance road. The contractors are about to start pouring the main runway. I hope the authority is talking to Southwest as well as the international carriers.
Our Panama City Beach Condos are approximately 10 miles from the new airport. We are looking forward to learning what it is like to be in an aerotropolis.
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Kasarda is "the pre-eminent expert on economic development around airports," Cramer said. "He's most noted ... for his development of the concept of the aerotropolis." On his Web site, Kasarda describes the aerotropolis as an engine for economic development that attracts aviation-linked businesses, including hotel, entertainment, retail and corporate headquarters. An aerotropolis stretches for 20 miles outward from the airport and will be similar to a traditional metropolis, Kasarda wrote.
On my way out of Panama City Beach on July 8th I drove by the new airport site. I spent a few minutes talking with the guys working on the entrance road. The contractors are about to start pouring the main runway. I hope the authority is talking to Southwest as well as the international carriers.
Our Panama City Beach Condos are approximately 10 miles from the new airport. We are looking forward to learning what it is like to be in an aerotropolis.
Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Panama City Beach Airport
For now the new Bay County International Airport is moving forward. Despite the lawsuits, Randy Curtis, the airport's executive director, said it appears the construction schedule is on track for the new airport to open in early 2010.
The airport has withstood legal challenges from environmentalists, a local pilots group and others who have argued it is unnecessary and will destroy environmentally sensitive wetlands. The lawsuits continue but the future of the new airport — the first since Sept. 11, 2001 — appears increasingly certain to both supporters and opponents.
"We did our battle and we were unsuccessful," said Fred Werner, a Panama City pharmacist and amateur pilot whose organization, Friends of PFN — the FAA's designation for the existing Panama City airport — sued to block the new airport.
And the airport? More people can not enjoy the beauty of Panama City Beach if they can access the region. Currently, only 8 percent of the people that come to these beautiful beaches are flying. Millions of people come to the beach every year but most of them drive. Over the long-term the market will expand with the airport.
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
The airport has withstood legal challenges from environmentalists, a local pilots group and others who have argued it is unnecessary and will destroy environmentally sensitive wetlands. The lawsuits continue but the future of the new airport — the first since Sept. 11, 2001 — appears increasingly certain to both supporters and opponents.
"We did our battle and we were unsuccessful," said Fred Werner, a Panama City pharmacist and amateur pilot whose organization, Friends of PFN — the FAA's designation for the existing Panama City airport — sued to block the new airport.
And the airport? More people can not enjoy the beauty of Panama City Beach if they can access the region. Currently, only 8 percent of the people that come to these beautiful beaches are flying. Millions of people come to the beach every year but most of them drive. Over the long-term the market will expand with the airport.
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Panama City Beach - Airport
More Airport Drama...
The saga continues…just hours after construction crews began work at the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport site Monday morning; two Florida-based environmental groups launched a new legal attack on the project.
In a hearing in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville on Monday, attorneys for the Florida Clean Water Network Inc. and Citizens for the Bay Inc. sought to block the Section 404 permit and a “biological opinion” by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that formed part of the permit approval. The named defendants were Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander Col. Paul L. Grosskruger and USFWS Panama City Field Office project leader Gail Carmody and their respective organizations.
The presiding judge set a hearing for Feb. 14 on the request for a permanent injunction, but declined to issue an interim stay on the Section 404 permit prior to the hearing.
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
The saga continues…just hours after construction crews began work at the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport site Monday morning; two Florida-based environmental groups launched a new legal attack on the project.
In a hearing in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville on Monday, attorneys for the Florida Clean Water Network Inc. and Citizens for the Bay Inc. sought to block the Section 404 permit and a “biological opinion” by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that formed part of the permit approval. The named defendants were Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander Col. Paul L. Grosskruger and USFWS Panama City Field Office project leader Gail Carmody and their respective organizations.
The presiding judge set a hearing for Feb. 14 on the request for a permanent injunction, but declined to issue an interim stay on the Section 404 permit prior to the hearing.
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Monday, February 4, 2008
New Airport @ Panama City
Panama City-Bay County International Airport Director Randy Curtis says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reinstated the Section 404 permit and Phoenix Construction is onsite doing construction work.
How good is this!
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
How good is this!
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Airport Update Panama City on January 23,2008
The critical hearing on whether construction can proceed was argued in a Manhattan federal courtroom Wednesday morning. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to issue a ruling that will either block construction of the new Panama City-Bay County International airport, allow construction of the airport to begin. If the issue is resolved favorably in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals the airport officials will still have to work with the Corps of Engineers to reinstate the 404 permit for the airport construction. There was no indication made today as to how soon the appellate judges will issue their ruling.
Hopefully the Airport Authority attorney and the Department of Justice attorney representing the FAA were on top of their game today!
Jerry
http://www.bestpanamacitybeachcondo.com
Hopefully the Airport Authority attorney and the Department of Justice attorney representing the FAA were on top of their game today!
Jerry
http://www.bestpanamacitybeachcondo.com
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