Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport May Gain Two Carriers

Posted on Thu, Jan. 08, 2004   
 
Airport May Gain Two Carriers
Bradenton Herald, FL 

 
SARASOTA - Two airlines are eyeing service to Sarasota-Bradenton International 
Airport, perhaps becoming the airport's first low-fare carrier.

But the airport's top executive cautioned Wednesday that he doesn't expect 
AirTran Airways and Independence Air to start flying here anytime soon, 
although their interest in the airport is a step toward eventually getting 
low-fare service.

"Our name is getting out there, and that's a good thing," said Fred Piccolo, 
the airport's president and chief executive.

Sarasota-Bradenton is the leading destination in an AirTran online poll asking 
travelers what city they want the airline to serve next.

The airport also is among 90 being considered by Independence, which plans to 
begin flying to 50 U.S. cities from its Washington-Dulles International Airport 
hub later this year.

AirTran's desire to fly into Sarasota-Bradenton is no secret: The airline has 
twice promised in writing to do so if the airport won a federal grant to defray 
operating costs. The airport didn't get the grant either time.

Piccolo said the online poll boosted his efforts.

"It reinforced what we have been telling AirTran and other airlines for a long 
time: There is pent-up demand for low-fare service here," he said. "It bolsters 
our arguments quite well. I know it impressed them. I don't know if being first 
will automatically bring service, but it helps a great deal."

AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson said results of the poll, which will be 
conducted through March, will be a small factor in airline decisions on which 
city to enter next.

"It's just one piece of the puzzle," he said.

Piccolo is less optimistic about landing Independence, a United Airlines 
regional carrier that now flies as Atlantic Coast Airlines, in the immediate 
future.

Atlantic officials told airport officials last month that Independence plans to 
focus on serving larger cities in its first year of flying solo, Piccolo said.

Independence does not plan to release its flight schedule until 60 days before 
it starts operations, spokesman Rick DeLisi said. When that happens depends on 
when Atlantic wins release from its contract with United as part of the larger 
airline's bankruptcy reorganization.

The renamed airline plans to offer 350 daily flights between Washington and 50 
other U.S. cities, he said.

"We're looking for destinations not well-served from Washington as well as 
Florida destinations that are popular in Washington," DeLisi said.

That bodes well for Sarasota-Bradenton. A consultant's 2001 study said 
Washington was among the Sarasota-Bradenton area's 10 largest air markets.

 

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