Fly Youngstown Blog

2008: Airport Goals

This is the 3rd straight year the Fly Youngstown Blog has decided to throw out some goals for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport to acheive in 2008, to tie in with our FlyYNG Plan. We have had little in terms of acheivement of our goals. We set the bar high because we are optimistic this airport will become a major player in air travel in the region. Now on with it!

In past year’s I’ve had no basis to my goals, but this year I do. The airport has $575,000 to help attract a business carrier to a regional hub. A few weeks before we received that money, Bowser was quoted saying he has begun discussions with another carrier that DOES NOT want any SCASD Grant. Here is what we know for sure “It [The Carrier] has not had a strong presence in this region like Continental Airlines in Cleveland and U.S. Air in Pittsburgh, he said. The airline said it needs to do $2 million worth of business here in a startup period to turn a profit, the director said.” So we can pretty much scratch USAir and Continental off the list of potential carriers. So with that, let’s begun our 2008 Goals for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

AIRLINE SERVICE
+After 2 years of service from YNG, Allegiant finally awards us nonstop flights to Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2 days per week. Flights to Vegas will not be offered anytime in the near future do the high cost of fuel.

+This summer around July or August, a regional carrier such as United Express [To O'Hare] or Delta [To Cincy] will announce flights out of YNG 3-5 Times per day!

+Also this summer we shall find out if those discussions regarding a carrier that does not want SCASD Money pay off; if they do, I suspect this is not a regional carrier. The way the article is written does not make it hint to that. I will guess a LCC like Spirit may be in discussions right now, we shall see!

TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS
+If the passenger facility fee’s are adding up like they should be, the airport should begin construction on new bathrooms in the passenger holding area of the terminal, past security. Whoever designed the new addition to the terminal forgot about the need of bathrooms, so 8 years later they will finally be built in the terminal.

OTHER
+New Marketing Director or perhaps a true airline expert/consultant is hired here this winter/spring.

+We will finally get to see the new master plan, after hearing for the past 2 years “The master plan is complete and is awaiting the DOT/FAA to make it public.”

+Passenger numbers reach 35,000.

We shall see if any of these become true, but I’m confident this time next year we will be served by at least 2 carriers, if not 3. I will remain optimistic, but also a realist at the same time. We need to continue support the airport in hopes additional flights/carriers will soon arrive.

THANKS - FLY YNG

2007:A Year in Review

2007 was yet another quiet year for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Although there were no new airlines brought in by the administration and no new flight schools, there is some optimistic news that can only have us excited about what 2008 may bring the airport! Let’s look back now, at 2007: A Year in Review.

JANUARY

-After 18 months of pressure from this very blog site, the airport finally releases a brand new official website; we grade it an A-.

FEBRUARY

-Chuck Johnson, our good friend [wink-wink], announced in the Vindicator that Vegas flights were close to becoming a reality. Of course later on he told us something entirely different saying he never said that in the paper…. Sure! Well its been 11 months, and still no Vegas Flights….. Glad to see you brought your aviation knowledge down to Charlotte now Chuck!

MARCH

-I go off on the airport. The lies from Chuck Johnson got to my head and for some time I was upset about a story published in the Vindicator that stated Bowser told Trumbull County commissioners Tuesday that he has been in contact with a “mainstream carrier,” and it should be making a decision soon.” Are we honestly still waiting for this decision, because my guess would be they said NO.

APRIL

-This blog pushes for Airport and Port Authority to attract Skybus to the airport. Although Skybus is having some early financial issues, they are still flying today!

MAY

-YNG applies for an $800,000 grant from the Dept. of Transportation through the Small Communities Air Service Development Grant Program. The grant calls for the money to be used as revenue guarantee’s for an airline to fly 3-5 times per day to ORD-CVG-CLT on a 50-90 seat regional jet.

JUNE

-Quote of the year by the man in charge of the Port Authority:

Joseph Maxin, port authority chairman, vented his frustration at the fence project tying up discretionary funds that could be used for infrastructure improvements. “This is so frustrating. All the money is going into that damn fence,” he said.

JULY 

-Lot of news this month. The airport got $150k from the DOT for new signs and safety equipment. Also the MV Scrappers [A - Cleveland Indians] had their 3rd largest crowd in franchise history, much in part to the Allegiant Air promotion of the night. A lucky set of fans won round trip tickets on Allegiant Air to Orlando-Sanford courtesy of YNG and Allegiant!

AUGUST

-Another great month for this blog. We start a grassroots effort called the Rally for YNG with the hopes that Allegiant Air will see that the people in this valley WANT additional flights to cities like Ft. Lauderdale, Vegas, and Tampa. We had 2000 votes in about 2 weeks.. Also we began a weekly chat feature which has been stopped temporarily. Airport Director Steve Bowser even joined us a few times and answered our questions on the airport. We hope to get this going again very soon!

SEPTEMBER

-YNG Announces that they are looking to hire a marketing director for the airport, now it sounds like they will hire an airport consultant. Also YNG announces they have begun talks with an airline that does not have a major presense at CLE or PIT.

OCTOBER

-YNG gets a big shot in the arm! The DOT has awarded YNG $575,000 from the SCASD Program to be used to attract a carrier to fly 3-5 flights per day to a regional city on a 50-90 seat regional jet.

NOVEMBER 

-RTI Titanium of Niles, OH announced they are moving their headquarters from Niles to Pittsburgh; due to the lack of air transportation in the Valley. That caught the eyes of the Port Authority and they called a meeting about it… Nothing yet though!

DECEMBER

-We released our 5th or so new design for the blog. It has a nice red and black trim at the top, the colors of YSU and the Valley. We also find out that the Port is close to signing on with a marketing consultant, as soon as this month!

We thank you for another great year here on the Fly Youngstown Blog. We hope 2008 is an even better year. In the coming days we will release our 2008 Goals for the Airport and begin to work on our 2008 FlyYNG Plan, our 3rd one now.

THANKS

Where is the Advertising for this: $44 to Orlando from YNG!

This could be good and could be bad. In January on most flights, fares from Youngstown to Orlando-Sanford are just $44 dollars one way on almost every flight next month! This is a fabulous steal of a price for January; by far the cheapest route to Orlando. In the following months fares will rise to $84 one way, still a great buy.

I bring this up because I’d like to know where the advertising is for these fabulous fares. I guarentee you, if you put a radio ad on the radio in Akron or Cleveland or Pittsburgh, you will find some people interested. This is why we need a marketing consultant ASAP. No-one is marketing this airport or Allegiant properly!

Consultant Research: Landrum and Brown

One of the two companies that have formally submitted bids to consult with airlines for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport is Landrum and Brown out of Cincinnati, OH. I decided that I should do my homework on the company and inform you guys about them.

Before I begin, here is the link to the Landrum and Brown official website…

Now I toured this site for about 20-25 minutes the past few days and looked at the aviation planning projects on the pages, and come across some interesting information. This company works for some major airports in the USA; including Cincinnati, Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago O’Hare, and Baltimore, those are some of the largest airports in the USA! After clicking around some more, I noticed that this company was hired mainly to update airport’s master plans for the FAA; something that YNG did the past few years and that should be made public any month now.

One thing I did not notice in my time on the site was anything really related to what YNG wants this company for, and that is as a marketing consultant. The closest thing to it may be the forecasting dept. they have there, which is working on a New York Air Service plan. The plan is trying to develop a short and long term plan to figure out the best plan for air service across the New York area.

So from what I saw, I am very impressed by this company. It is evident they get the job done because many of the airports that use this company, are using it for more than 1 thing… But despite that, like I previously said, I really don’t see any aspect of their company that concentrates on working with airports and airlines to get service. That is something Bowser and the Port need to realize. If I were them I’d request previous documents of marketing that this company has done in the past; because until I see them, I am not sold on them being able to do the job that YNG would ask of them. They are a great company, but I am not quite sure they are the type company we need!

Vindy Editorial on Hiring of Marketing Consultant [Good Read]

As Steve Bowser, director of aviation at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and members of the port authority get ready to hire a consulting firm to help lure a regional airline, there’s a standard that should be applied to the prospective hiree.

Indeed, the presence of Allegiant Air, a low-cost leisure carrier based in Las Vegas, demonstrates a demand for commercial service, even with major airports within driving distance of the Mahoning Valley.

In addition, a $575,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to entice a regional airline to offer daily service from the airport shows that the federal government is open to persuasion — supported by solid data.

Therefore, the standard that should be applied to each of the applicants can be expressed in these questions: What is your record with regard to attracting airlines to regional airports the size of Youngstown-Warren? How many federal grants have you helped secure for your clients?

This is in no way to suggest that we are throwing our support to one of the companies seeking the contract, Landrum & Brown of Cincinnati — even though it assisted the Western Reserve Port Authority in the past.

Landrum & Brown has been credited by Bowser with helping to attract Allegiant to the Youngstown-Warren airport in May 2006, and with assisting local officials in developing the grant application for the federal money through the Federal Aviation Administration.

Landrum & Brown has submitted a proposal, as has another company. Two others are also expected to apply.

It is encouraging that there is more than limited interest in the airport, and it is a good thing that Bowser and members of the port authority will have the opportunity to explore indepth what each of the applicants believes are the strengths and weaknesses of the regional airport.

Support for the airport

We have been unflagging in our support of the airport and have strongly backed elected officials who have called for expansion of airline service and the development of business and industrial parks on land adjacent to the airport.

We have also made it clear that a working airport is essential to the future growth of the Air Force Reserve base, which is a major economic player in the Mahoning Valley.

Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, like his predecessor, James A. Traficant Jr., has made the growth of the airport and the expansion of the air reserve base top priorities. And like Traficant, Ryan has been successful in persuading the Pentagon that continued investment in the base is a national security imperative.

Regular air service is important, which is why the company selected to market the facility must have a track record of dealing with the airline industry and the federal government.

Bowser has said that the type of airline he hopes to attract would offer service three or four times a day on a 50- to 90-seat regional jet. In 2002, Northwest Airlines provided such service.

Allegiant, on the other hand, has been successful in its narrow focus: Two flights a week to the Sanford/Orlando International Airport. After a year and a half, there is talk of flights to Las Vegas.

There are many factors that go into keeping an airport viable, but one of the most important is to secure the services of individuals who know the airline business intimately and also know how to market a facility such as the one in Vienna Township.

Marketing Consultant Close to Signing on with YNG!

VIENNA — Members of the Western Reserve Port Authority may be ready next month to select a consulting company to help them secure a regional airline to operate at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

Steve Bowser, the airport’s director of aviation, said he has received proposals from two such companies and is expecting to receive two more. So far, the companies are quoting prices in the $30,000 to $50,000 price range.

One of the companies, Landrum & Brown of Cincinnati, has assisted the port authority in the past, helping to attract the leisure airline Allegiant to the airport in May 2006 and helping with the grant application to the Federal Aviation Administration that led to a $575,000 FAA grant award. Receipt of that grant should be finalized in January, Bowser said.

One value of such a consulting company is that they have access to U.S. Department of Transportation statistics and can interpret them in ways that have credibility with airlines, Bowser said.

Armed with such information, such a company can also help market the airport to airlines, Bowser said.

Bowser says the airport needs an airline that would offer flights three to five times per day to a hub such as Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Columbus; or Cincinnati. Such service would restore much-needed activity to the airport to encourage local businesses to remain here, Bowser said.

Currently the airport offers flights twice per week to Orlando through Allegiant and charter flights to Atlantic City. Most other activity at the airport is on smaller, privately owned aircraft.

In other business at the port authority’s meeting Wednesday, Bowser said bankruptcy proceedings for ReadyAir, a former fuel handler and service provider at the airport, should be finalized in January.

Bowser said he expects the proceedings to result in payment of about $30,000 of the $48,000 ReadyAir owes the port authority in fees and rents.

Fresh New Look on YNGAir.com

I decided to redesign the look on the blog page, and have come up with a simple, yet very nice template for this site. We moved away from the blue and yellow, and implemented the colors of the Mahoning Valley and Youngstown, Red and Black. We continually redesign our blog to make it look fresh and new; unlike other blogs with the same look for 2-3 years!

We strive to become the best local blog in the Mahoning Valley; but we cannot do that without the help of you! Over the coming weeks we will begin our year end coverage of the airport, get some additional passenger data numbers in, and talk about our 2008 FlyYNG Plan for the Airport. BUT, We need your help. We ask you to help us spread the word to friends and family in the Mahoning Valley and other parts of the USA. We’d also like you to participate in our blog by leaving comments to our posts. Your opinion matters here, and it will be directed to the management of the Youngstown Airport.

We have a great opportunity ahead with this site and a future looking bright at the airport, and we want you to be apart of it.

Thanks-FlyYNG!

So where are we now?

It’s December of 2007 and it’s been about 2 months, at least I think so, since the DOT Announced that YNG Received $575,000 from the SCASD Program to help entice a carrier to fly daily flights to a regional hub. Just prior to this news, we posted on here that Bowser and Co. had begun talking with a carrier; that quite frankly wasn’t looking for subsidy dollars to run a service.

The quote: Bowser said he spoke with an airline last week about service to Youngstown-Warren, and those talks will continue. It has not had a strong presence in this region like Continental Airlines in Cleveland and U.S. Air in Pittsburgh, he said.

The airline said it needs to do $2 million worth of business here in a startup period to turn a profit, the director said. Two other airlines had cited figures of $3 million and $5 million, Bowser said.

So I ask this: If that carrier they had begun talking with DOES NOT WANT the SCASD Money; then are we in talks with a second carrier that WOULD LIKE the SCASD Money?

Another interesting thing is the lack of stories on the airport over the recent months, there have been None; other than what Karl posted about local politicians trying to find one aspect of the airport to jump-start.  I have not talked with Steve Bowser since early September, so I am not in the “know” on any airline talks at all.

So I guess we will all get a nice surprise next spring when a carrier should announce service out of YNG; at least according to the YNG SCASD Application schedule.

FLY YNG

USA3000 Should Be Considered At YNG

It has become clear to me that where distance is a factor in the consideration of new destinations that YNG should move their sights to USA3000.    The usage of an A320 solves any range factor that could surface as any destinations are pondered including the west coast.

According to the posted results from the “Rally For YNG” Fort Lauderdale achieved 596 votes or 26% of the votes cast.  While USA3000 serves CLE & PIT I suggest you take a look at where they fly from those two cities.

USA3000 Route Map —  http://www.usa3000.com/map.htm

Look at where they fly from CLE & PIT — its not the same.  USA3000 does not fly from CLE to FLL.  PIT has the flight but probably at higher ramp rates for the airline.  Remember my discussion about a weakness which can be translated into a nitch and/or a selling point.

I suggest that while whatever airline is being considered with the usage of the SCASD funds USA3000 be approached on the side with this potential nitch.  The flyers in the Youngstown-Warren area seem to have expressed an interest in FLL.  YNG needs more low-fare flights to draw more flyers and provide them with more options. 

If the flights to FLL from YNG became a strong draw maybe USA3000 could be motivated to fly to that other requested destination from the same poll:  LAS

Currently they don’t fly there but they have the right aircraft to handle the distance.  Now you know where I was going all along with these thoughts.  Obtain a current flight that they have from a high cost airport and at a given time point out the numbers interested in Las Vegas.  Hmmmm

It should be noted that USA3000 does not fly from CAK.  They have one flight from CMH.  However with Skybus at CMH I doubt that additional USA3000 flights will be scheduled very fast.  Given these additional factors I think these thoughts should be pursued.

With all of this there is nothing to lose but a step forward can be gained. 

Share your comments on this including your own nitch ideas.

Ohio Congressman Ryan On YNG’s Future

Courtesy:  WYTV

Ohio Congressman Ryan On Regional Airport’s Future - Video Report Included

http://www.wytv.com/news/local/11659331.html

Ohio Congressman Ryan On Regional Airport’s Future

November 20, 2007

Local leaders are trying to lay out a plan for the future of the “Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

Following a closed-door, brainstorming meeting held today in Vienna.

Local leaders tell say no decisions were made about the airport, but now the focus is finding a mission and working together with leaders from both Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.

Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, of the 17th Congressional District says, ”Where the state money, the local money goes, the county commissioners have been committed to this-how to focus to get one area of the airport jump started.” 

The same group will likely meet again in the next few months to further discuss the issue.