"Regional Ohio airport sees 43 percent rise in commercial passengers"

Thursday, June 10, 2004

Regional airport sees 43 percent rise in commercial passengers 
By Jolene Craig
The Marietta (OH) Times


WILLIAMSTOWN - The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport in Wood County hopes to
add a second commercial airline to accommodate a significant increase in
passengers. 

The airport is working to attract Delta, Continental, Corporate, Mesa and
Piedmont at a session with some of those carriers on June 30, said Carolyn
Strock, airport manager. Right now, the airport's only commercial carrier is
US Airways.

In May of this year, the airport reported a 43 percent increase in
commercial passengers compared to May 2003. So far this year, the airport
reported an additional 1,800 commercial passengers compared to 2003.

"The convenience of traveling from the local airport, where safety and
security do not equate to long lines, and the drive home at the end of the
trip takes only a few minutes, making traveling that much easier as opposed
to driving to Columbus," said Strock.

The airport has undergone some major changes in recent months. One of the
changes included expanding the airport's reach by re-naming it the Mid-Ohio
Valley Regional Airport. Also in March of this year, the airport launched a
marketing campaign to educate people in the area about the airport and its
commercial carrier prices.

"We are thrilled with the response from leisure and business travelers
throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley who are using the airport with greater
frequency," said D. Blair Couch, airport board president.

Couch attributes the increase in travelers to new, competitive airfares from
US Airways and to the new marketing campaign.

"We have been having blitzes at fairs and will have another one when the
decision is made," said Strock. "Board members have also been going to
meetings for groups and giving speeches."

With the increase in passengers, airport officials now say they feel they
can use the success to attract a second carrier into the area.

"The two go hand in hand because we need to be able to show that the demand
exists to be able to attract a new carrier into the community," Couch said.

One airline of interest is Delta, said Strock. Delta has a connection with
the airport in Cincinnati, which would be close and offer passengers at the
Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport another place for direct travel. Right now,
US Airways has direct flights only to Pittsburgh.

As part of the airport's effort to expand its base, it added members from
Washington County and the Marietta area to its board. One of those members
is Larry Steinel of 105 Ellsworth Drive, Marietta, owner of Uniglobe Travel.

Steinel said in general travel around the country is recovering after
serious setbacks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He said the
marketing campaign put the airport back in people's minds, and it has worked
to show area travelers that the airport can offer competitive prices.

"The goal right now is to pick up that different carrier. We need another
hub. With US Air in a bit of financial trouble right now, we want to get
someone else in here," Steinel said. "I think we've shown that it can work
for another carrier."


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************