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Area organizations form alliance to lower air fares, expand choices
By Kathleen Dayton
Staff Writer
Hefty airfares and a lack of low-fare carriers at Charleston International Airport have three area organizations so concerned that they are willing to pay to fix the problem.
The Charleston County Aviation Authority, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau have decided to share the cost of hiring an aviation consultant to help Charleston lure new airlines and expand its existing service.
“Air service is consistently the top issue for our members and community, so it only makes sense for the chamber, the CVB and the aviation authority to team up and address this issue,” said Mary Graham, the chamber’s senior vice president of public policy and regional advancement.
Graham said the fact that Charleston does not have more choices in air service is a huge detriment that stands in the way of developing the corporate meeting market. Fewer choices keep airfares high and fewer routes mean less available seats.
“This impacts businesses’ bottom line, because it’s costly and there needs to be more choices,” Graham said.
Delta Airlines, the airport’s strongest carrier, recently cut back about one-third of its routes. Independence Air, which had been the airport’s only low-fare carrier, folded in January 2006.
While other airports in the region serve predominantly leisure travelers, Charleston International has a nearly even mix of leisure and business travelers.
“We see that as a real benefit,” said Helen Hill, executive director of the CACVB. “Generally that is what airlines like to see: a good mix between leisure and business.”
It is too soon to say which firm the group might tap to provide consulting, how much it will cost or how soon the effort might get underway, Hill said.
“I think this is the very first step in a long process, and one of the main reasons we want to hire a consultant is to look at things from a national perspective,” Hill said. “We hope our result will be the opening up of new markets and more competitive fares.”
A consultant will be expected to help package the Charleston area so it can be presented in its most compelling light, focusing on accolades related to business, tourism and aviation, she said.
New service to Dallas was a recent perk for the tri-county area, and Hill said she sees opportunities with current carriers to open new markets.
Low-fare carriers serving the Myrtle Beach airport have traditionally lured travelers from the Charleston area. One of those, AirTran, has decided to pull out of Myrtle Beach this spring because of the lack of business travelers in that market. AirTran continues to serve Savannah, which captures travelers in the Hilton Head area, but airline officials believe Charleston could tempt AirTran as a second coastal destination.
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