Could Allegiant pick up where AirTran left??
I found this article about AirTran leaving the Myrtle Beach taking their low fares with them. USAir is the biggest carrier that flies into Myrtle Beach. Here is my thinking. Allegiant should start providing service to Myrtle Beach AND Atlanta to take over where AirTran left and offer the low cost fares. Since AirTran will no longer be flying from CAK to Myrtle Beach, Allegiant can now take that away from CAK, increasing ridership. Also, take on USAir out of Pittsburgh by offering lower fares. In the 7 months that AirTran operated out of Myrtle Beach, they had just under 60,000 passengers. I am pretty sure that Allegiant would welcome that, as well as increase that number because people around Youngstown would take the flights and any business that would be taken from USAir would definitely increase those numbers. I think it is worth a shot, so how do we convince Allegiant to do this?? If this is not feasible, any chance of attracting the two charter airlines (Myrtle Beach Direct and Southern Skyways) to YNG?? Below is the article, and I await your feedback fellow bloggers!
DOUGK
AirTran Departs Myrtle Beach The Latest from Airport
The Sun News
Dec. 21 — AirTran Airways will not return to Myrtle Beach come spring, taking away a vital, low-cost link to Atlanta.
The airline, which ended its seasonal service Nov. 6, couldn’t draw enough passengers, especially higher-paying business travelers, AirTran spokeswoman Judy Graham-Weaver said.
Fliers from Myrtle Beach liked the AirTran service because the airline has a hub in Atlanta, allowing travelers to pick up connecting flights to about 50 destinations, including Tampa, Fla.; New York; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; and Washington, D.C. The fares also were low, leaving some speculating that AirTran’s departure could cause prices to rise.
AirTran stuck around the beach longer than usual this year, through October, only to still be disappointed in the numbers. “The route has still not produced the results we need,” Graham-Weaver said. “We were disappointed with the results from the market this summer and even extending the season this year did not help produce the profitability factor we need.”
Already, Delta is stepping up to fill the void. The airline announced this week that it will use bigger planes to fly the Myrtle Beach-Atlanta route starting this summer, offering more seats.
AirTran is the fourth-largest airline serving the Myrtle Beach International Airport, carrying 59,225 passengers out of Myrtle Beach during its seven months of service in 2006, according to statistics from Horry County, which operates the airport. By comparison, the largest carrier, U.S. Airways, flew out 211,603 passengers in 2006.
Myrtle Beach’s seasonal nature makes it tricky for airlines. Most pull out or cut back in the winter and return along with the tourists in the spring. With AirTran’s low fares gone, prices could creep up, said Mickey McCamish, executive director of marketing group Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday who actively pursues airlines. “Anytime you lose a low-cost carrier like AirTran, there’s potential for ticket prices to rise,” he said.
With a new 14-gate terminal on the horizon, Horry County officials downplayed AirTran’s decision to leave, saying it represented only 5 percent of the airport’s total departures and 9 percent of the total seats during its years here. AirTran pulling out of the beach doesn’t negate the need for the terminal, said Lisa Bourcier, spokeswoman for Horry County.
“Passenger growth at the airport has increased an average of 6 percent per year over the past decade,” she said. “The new terminal is needed to accommodate the passenger growth that is forecast to continue.” This year traffic is down at the airport, which officials have blamed on having fewer seats to fill. Through November, the number of passengers leaving the beach is off last year’s numbers by 8.8 percent, while incoming traffic is down 9.49 percent, according to Horry County statistics.
AirTran’s departure comes as two charter air services plan to come to Myrtle Beach this spring, though neither had plans to pick up AirTran’s route to Atlanta. Myrtle Beach Direct plans to fly to Pittsburgh, Newark, N.J., and Niagara Falls, N.Y., while Southern Skyways will fly to Charleston, W.Va., Allentown, Pa., and Cincinnati. “We believe the recent new service announcements by low-cost operators Myrtle Beach Direct Air and Southern Skyways who, combined, will provide nonstop service to six markets, will more than offset any affect from AirTran’s current decisions,” Bourcier said in an e-mail.
AirTran rarely calls it quits in a market. The last time the airline permanently pulled out of a city was three years ago when it ditched Tallahassee, Fla., and Greensboro, N.C., Graham-Weaver said. “We don’t like pulling out of any market we serve,” she said. “We’ve given it a try but unfortunately it just didn’t produce the profitability we need.”
About AirTran
Hub — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Myrtle Beach passengers in 2006 — 59,225
Fourth-largest airline serving Myrtle Beach International Airport
Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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January 2nd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
A couple things. AirTran never flew from Akron to Myrtle Beach.
Allegiant will not fly to Atlanta just to start competition, they are sticking at vacation cities.
I could see Myrtle Beach when their new terminal is complete, but gate space is limited down there and costs are high.
Allegiant will continue to grow, I do know in the next few weeks more destinations will be announced. Now it’s time for YNG to see increased services as they receive more planes!
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Nice idea Doug BUT eventhough Allegiant is a much better airline than Vacation Express was, there is no way to have a continous high percentage to Myrtle Beach from YNG. It starts out high and drops pretty significally after a few months from around here.
In other words it’s not a sure thing for Allegiant
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Thanks yngair,
It may not have been a direct flight, but they flew into Atlanta then on to Myrtle Beach. They still fly into Hilton Head via Atlanta.
Allegiant may not want to take on Atlanta, but they could win customers over who fly USAir with direct, low fare flights. Right now if I were to fly in March, one way from PIT to MYR would be $114. One way from CAK to MYR is 106. Allegiant could beat both of those with the convienence of the YNG airport by doing $89 one way and flying direct into MYR, unlike AirTran was doing via Atlanta. People from the CAK and PIT markets would be flocking to YNG for the deals.
January 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Myrtle Beach is way too seasonal for Allegiant. They want to make money all 12 months, not just 6 months at best.
YNG’s loads to Myrtle Beach were at a dismal 70% That will NEVER cut it for Allegiant…………… NEVER.
January 3rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
I still think we could sustain added serice to FL, namely Ft. Myers and Ft. Lauderdale. Once again, I think we need to get the media involved somehow to push the service we have to Florida as well as Atlantic City. I agree that we don’t have the population base and numbers of interested people for Myrtle Beach. I know many people that enjoy going there but they all drive as they need a car to get around the area. As for AirTran service there, I think US Airways and Delta have been able to match their fares. AirTran is not always the lowest priced carrier to many destinations.
January 3rd, 2007 at 10:47 am
I have been struggling with this problem of how to get the media involved. Ever since YNGAIR invited me to post, I have been thinking of ways to get the media involved. (WRITE THAT DOWN YNGAIR AND ADD THAT TO THE LIST OF ITEMS FOR OUR 2007 PLAN, GETTING THE MEDIA INVOLVED.)
The thing about the media is that they will only report the news, especially in the Youngstown area. There are very few “human interest” stories that you can do about the airport. I have a couple of ideas that I am going to finalize and get the ball rolling like, the Vindy doing a 3 part series on people who work at the airport and what goes on there between flights and/or have Joe Bell or one of the other tv reporters do a story on how the flights are still at about 86% capacity. Things like that. I even have a plan to try to attract more business to the airport, not just passengers, and it will involve an email and presentation campaign. Should be ready by the end of the month.
The media will only get involved when it would benefit them. Your post is leaning more towards advertising and I would agree that we need to have more of it on TV and radio. When Allegiant first started offering flights in the summer, you should have heard all the ads that AirTran was putting on the radio and TV in the Cleveland market. I have never heard so many ads for the airport in all my life. The billboards were going up like crazy over here (I live with in spitting distance of CAK) because they felt threatened. I even heard the CAK director on a Cleveland station mention the flights in YNG, and how the low fares would only be a “one hit wonder” and that they offered better service. Steve Bowser need to get out in front of the mics and cameras. Heck, now that Vic Rubby is better, he could now start promoting the airport again. Advertising should be handled by the airport and the airline, not the media.
As far as what YNGAIR said about the loads to Myrtle Beach being at 70%. That was with Vacation Express and I believe that we had two flights a week. You don’t think that Allegiant can make up 10 to 15% more in passengers just based on their name alone?? Just asking!
January 3rd, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Nice ideas DougK. We need to start something web-wise to begin a member base of everyone who wants to be apart of our campaign. And I do not think Allegiant’s name will help the situation. Remember the VE Flights were just 120 seats, these are 150 seat jets. Yes you can say that we are doing well filling more seats on the Orlando flights, but the MYR flights are just too seasonal.
Here is a letter today from one of the men over at the Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, regarding Allegiant.
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Thank you for your interest in Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). We are meeting with many airlines to establish more routes to many destinations including new service to areas throughout the US as well as international destinations. While we have had discussions with Allegiant Air in the past and continue to explore new opportunities with them, at this time we do not have any commitments to begin service to Southwest Florida International Airport.
If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
________________________________
Brian Bennett - Public Relations
Lee County Port Authority
Southwest Florida International Airport
11000 Terminal Access Road, Suite 8671
Fort Myers, FL 33913
web: http://www.flylcpa.com