December Air Traffic Down 11.7%, Year-2006 Down 7.2%, Welcome to Year-2000
Bay County air traffic continued to decline in 2006, totalling 176,640 enplanements and 354,949 total passengers. Historically, we have almost reverted to year-2000 traffic (357,000). The official report here. Nonetheless, plans for a $331 Million pork-port are progressing nicely…
The airport has spent almost $40 Million (and incurred a mitigation obligation of $6 Million) on the “free land” so far! Does anybody doubt that 2500 acres of uplands could have been purchased in 2000 for $8-10 Million and we could be on our way to a 1-runway regional airport like Ft. Myers by now?
January 31st, 2007 at 9:52 am
Hi Mr. Hodges -
Thank you very much for your research and valuable information.
According to some business forecasters, the future of aviation is in smaller, more efficient jets, often referred to as "Air Taxis". If there is any truth to this, isn’t our current airport perfect for this kind of plane? Because of a previous project I worked on for a small regional carrier in Atlanta, I read estimations that one day the smaller regional airports are going to be the preferred choice of business passengers and tourists who are traveling within a 300-400 mile radius. Because of the new, fuel-efficient mini-jets that are soon to be flying, the cost of an "Air Taxi" ticket will be as affordable as a ticket on today’s larger passenger planes. It will also be beneficial because the "curb to takeoff" time is so much faster than at a large airport.
Since most of Bay County’s tourists live within a 300-400 radius, one of these Air Taxis out of Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Nashville and other target markets would be the preferred method of travel for the tourists. It would also be the affordable way for Bay County residents to fly to Atlanta to catch a big plane to the rest of the world. And don’t ever forget, the rest of the world will go through Atlanta to get to Bay County no matter what. The thought of enough tourists from Europe, L.A., New York or Chicago coming directly to Bay County on a huge jet daily is a joke. Everyone will enter through Atlanta, then catch a smaller plane to Bay County. So do we really need a longer runway?
Your feedback on this "Air Taxi" concept will be appreciated.
Kirk Lancaster
Online Marketing Consultant
Lynn Haven, FL
Kirk@KirkLancaster.com