"Airport considers how to expand service"

Wednesday, October, 12, 2005
 
Airport considers how to expand service 
By Scott Wartman
The Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch


CEREDO -- Local passengers and businesses may soon take advantage of more
flights, lower fares and rebate programs at Tri-State Airport in Ceredo as a
result of federal dollars received earlier this year.

Passengers and business leaders say they desire more destinations and
options for the airport.
  
The Tri-State Airport Authority has started planning how the $500,000
federal grant will help boost air service.

The federal government approved a $500,000 grant in September for the
Tri-State Airport to expand its air service and promotion.

The airport authority on Tuesday discussed using some of the grant money for
a consulting firm to perform market studies and develop rebate and discount
programs for passengers.

Though the airport authority has not fully developed the plans for the
grant, passengers may see special fares and programs this winter, airport
leaders say.

The grant could give the airport new life, said Cal Kent, a board member on
the Tri-State Airport Authority and Huntington city councilman. Delta
announced shortly after it filed for bankruptcy in September that it would
eliminate in December two of its four flights from Tri-State Airport. The
airport has two carriers, Delta-subsidiary Comair flights to Cincinnati and
US Airways flights to Charlotte.

"We have a golden opportunity to plan the future of the airport," Kent said.
"We see it slowly slipping away from us. We have an opportunity to reverse
that slide."

This fall or winter, airport authority officials say they will likely have a
rebate program for businesses in an effort to cater to business travelers,
said Beckie McKinley, airport marketing director.

In the rebate program, a business could get cash back by booking flights out
of Tri-State Airport at a certain time to certain destinations, she said.

"We want to develop a loyalty with area businesses," McKinley said.

The grant will allow the airport to increase its advertising and ability to
attract other airlines, airport officials say. A new airline could take many
shapes and sizes including carriers who only make a handful of flights on a
seasonal basis, said Alpa Shah, operations manager for the airport. One
possibility would include an air carrier flying to Myrtle Beach a couple
times a week during the summer, Shah said.

"It all depends on if there is an airline willing to do it. You need a
market study," Shah said. "If we could get that airline to do that before
next spring, we would get that up and running for summer travel."

Passengers say they want not only cheaper flights, but more major
destinations.

Convenience plays a large factor in where Ashland resident Ike Nicholson
makes his flight plans. Nicholson flies frequently and generally has no
problems finding low airfares out of Tri-State Airport.

Sometimes, however, Nicholson said he must fly out of Charleston to get
direct flights to Washington, D.C. or other major destinations.

Nicholson said he would prefer to have more flights closer to his home.

"Living in Ashland, it is a good hour to get to Charleston," Nicholson said.
"It would be easier to have a direct flight to D.C."

More flights in Huntington will make the area more attractive to travelers
and business, said Rob Hanna, owner of Aaron's Products in Huntington. Like
other travelers, Hanna said he chooses flights based on the most direct
route.

Hanna said he will have to fly out of Charleston in an upcoming trip that
will take him through Atlanta.

"I fly whatever is more convenient," Hanna said. "I can fly from Charleston
to Atlanta. If I flew out of Huntington, I would have to go to Cincinnati
then to Atlanta. You got to fly someplace else to get to where you want to
go."

Huntington businessman Phil Cline makes an effort to fly out of Huntington
as often as possible. When flying east or south, Cline said he sometimes
must choose flights out of Charleston that have a more direct route.

The airport would benefit by offering flights to Pittsburgh, Washington,
D.C. or Atlanta, he said.

Flying to Cincinnati to get to eastern destinations doesn't always make
sense for the time-starved traveler, Cline said.

"If you are going to Washington, D.C., or to Boston, you have got to go west
before you go east," Cline said.


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