"Pennsylvania airport attempts to attract new business"

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Local airport attempts to attract new business
By Kay Stephens
The Altoona (PA) Mirror

 
MARTINSBURG - The Altoona-Blair County Airport Authority is hoping to
attract new business with a weekly price break on aircraft fuel and a pasta
dinner special.

Airport officials, with passenger numbers down by 300 since last year, say
they hope the deal will bring in some private aircraft and restaurant
patrons.

While the authority has no control over ticket prices, which is one of the
factors affecting how many passengers use the county's airport, it does have
the option of working with Penn Air Inc. on the fuel discount and with Kitty
Hawk restaurant.

The deal will begin May 24 and will continue every Thursday thereafter.

The price breaks, when paired with a restaurant special, have been
successful at other small airports, said Ron Morris of Delta Airport
Consultants. As more pilots learn of the discount, it is believed that they
would make the trip, which would increase fuel sales and improve the
airport's passenger numbers, he said.

Authority member Gary Orner, at the authority's Monday meeting, asked about
the participants signing a letter to guarantee participation. The
authority's law firm will handle the letter.

Authority members decided that they need more information on a publicity
campaign aimed at attracting patrons. A representative from WJAC-TV in
Johnstown suggested an advertising campaign of $10,400 to $14,820, depending
on the type of advertisements selected.

Authority Vice Chairman Lanny Ross said he wanted more information about the
options and how the authority could target those most likely to use the
airport.

"You won't reach the business people with daytime television
advertisements," Ross said.

Authority Chairman Don Ruggery asked Ross to get more information on how the
authority could focus on the people it wants to reach, and he asked Orner to
explore other advertising options. 

Manager Charles Pillar said that the cost of billboard advertising was
pinned down at $250 to $515 per month, depending on size and location.

Orner said he continues to check prices and finds that the rates from Blair
County's airport are competitive within the USAir system.

"We're not getting killed in a price war," he said.

The airport is losing potential passengers who elect to drive to
metropolitan airports for better ticket prices. The local airport has tried
to counter that by eliminating its parking fee and by reminding passengers
that security checks are much faster than at larger airports.

Pillar said PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation also is trying to help small
airports address this matter by seeking a federal grant that could be used
to reduce the cost of flying through the county's airport. If received, the
federal grant would be matched with state grant money, so the fares could be
cut, he said.

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