Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

[Matt J]

Looks like it's heating up.

Okaloosa Chambers Launch "Southwest to VPS"

Northwest Florida Regional Airport has gone public with its campaign to attract Southwest Airlines.
Monday, the Destin Chamber sent out an e-mail on behalf on the airport announcing the campaign called "Southwest to VPS".
Airport officials are asking local business leaders to pledge money towards attracting the low-cost carrier.
There's no question southwest airlines will soon begin offering service to the Florida panhandle.
"To be able to come down here cheaper and bring the whole family, bring the grandma's would be great for us. We would really enjoy being able to come here more often," says Kansas City Resident Jessica Lea.
The question is which airport Southwest will choose as its Panhandle base.
Three airports are competing for the low-cost carrier.
Pensacola, Northwest Florida Regional in Okaloosa County, and the new Bay County Airport, which opens in West Bay next May.
Southwest wants to recoup start-up costs, so it's asking each airport to pledge monetary incentives.
Pensacola is in the middle of a $2 million campaign.
The St. Joe Company has reportedly pledge $10 million to bring Southwest to Bay County, although no one will confirm that report.
And now the Destin Chamber is encouraging its members to donate to the new Southwest to VPS campaign on-behalf of Northwest Florida Regional.
Northwest Regional officials launched the campaign after Pensacola’s chamber began soliciting Okaloosa County business last week.
"It's no different than what's been done in Panama City with the promise of 10 to 13 million dollars or what's going on in Pensacola. We just felt we needed to get in the competition because Southwest Airlines here is a much more direct benefit to our members in Destin," says Destin Chamber President Shane Moody.
Several Okaloosa County chambers are driving the campaign, because F.A.A. rules prohibit airports from direct fundraising to attract carriers.
A group of business owners will hold an informational meeting at the airport Wednesday to discuss fund-raising plans.
"We are certainly hoping that everyone will participate with us to bring Southwest Airlines to the most centrally located airport on the Gulf Coast," says local business owner Joe Fagundes.
Airport officials believe NWF Regional’s location and capabilities will win-over the low cost carrier.
"It's going to be an easy choice for Southwest," says Airports’ Director Greg Donovan.
The meeting at Northwest Florida Regional will begin at 1:00 P.M.

Personally I think it's hysterical that Destin is asking for handouts. Wouldn't anyone with the resources to plunk down 10-13 million bucks be flying in a private jet?

 

[Will B]

I'm kind of surprised Pensacola doesn't have a Chicago non-stop. I know that VPS used to, but it got eliminated as part of a bigger route consolidation.

They used to via United, but it was eliminated due to low passenger yield. I think it went away about 3 years ago.

 

[pcbdaily]

If it's paved, what's that ditch in the middle?

Is that for lights?

Holy-delayed-response BATMAN!

Sorry if this has been answered, didn't read all the posts, running out the door to SOWAL!

Yes, that strip was for the lights. That's all done now. I go up there with frequency. you can keep an eye on my site under the "airport" category.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Looks like it's heating up.

Okaloosa $$Chambers Launch "Southwest to VPS"

Now this is very interesting reading. :boxing:

Pensacola ups the ante in chase for Southwest Airlines - al.com

Pensacola officials are mounting a public push to attract Southwest Airlines to Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, promising incentives that could be worth more than $10 million over three years.

(snip) One question is whether incentives mean much in courting Southwest.

"It doesn't matter where the incentives are," said Jack Penning, of Sixel Consulting, an Oregon firm that works for the Mobile airport. With Southwest, he said, "it's more about where the market will perform the best."

Any insights Singinchicken?

 

[Everytime]

Now this is very interesting reading. :boxing:

Pensacola ups the ante in chase for Southwest Airlines - al.com



Any insights Singinchicken?

I hadn't thought about Mobile being a possibility for SWA (as also mentioned in the PCOLA article). But now that I think about it, they probably have the largest MSA on the Gulf between NOLA & Tampa, an established industrial base including oil and gas plus a significant newcomer in Thyssen-Krup's steel facility, and easy direct access via I-65 and I-10. I still hope PCB gets it though.

 

[Will B]

Now this is very interesting reading. :boxing:

Pensacola ups the ante in chase for Southwest Airlines - al.com



Any insights Singinchicken?

No...not right now. It's hard to tell where they would go without being able to see passenger data. The thing to remember about Southwest is that they don't operate on the hub and spoke principle so, in theory, they could fly into either airport from anywhere as long as the passenger numbers warranted it.

It would be cool to see a battle of two low cost carriers (Air Tran) at PNS, but at the same time Southwest might use that to decide to go to VPS. Considering the fact that Southwest has just lost money for the first time in their history and that they have cut 92 flights from their schedule, where ever they decide to go will neet to reap immediate gains or else they won't do it. AFter looking at their route structure, though, PNS or VPS probably makes the most sense as it will give them a better presence in NW Florida to capture business that is more than seasonal. The closest airport they serve is New Orleans so either one of those would be a good choice.
Not trying to poop on Panama City. I'm trying to think like an airline that wants to establish successful service. Right now, the business to PC is largely seasonal. Things may be different down the road...

 

[beachmouse]

Looking at SWA's current route maps, the lowest volume airport they fly into east of Texas is Jackson, MS, which carries about 1.3 million passengers every year.

Passenger counts at assorted northern Gulf Coast airports, 2008 numbers:

RITA | BTS | Transtats

Pensacola - 1.53 million
Gulfport-Biloxi - 900K
VPS - 746K
Mobile - 572K
Panama City -332K

You can probably throw out Biloxi for being too close to New Orleans. Going in there would unnecessarily canibalize current service options.

So looking for another Jackson analog among the list, Mobile doesn't have the numbers to make it work, and even with pledges and financial offers, Panama City's numbers are so dismal right now that it's hard to justify starting a new service when existing demand is so weak. Jackson carries 400K Southwest passengers alone, and that's small annual load for SWA.

Unless Southwest is planning some sort of massive paradigm shift about moving into smaller East Coast markets (right now their sub-million passenger markets are in Texas) then Pensacola seems like it would be the best fit given what seems to be their current business plan.

One bright thing about Southwest going into Pensacola is that I'm not sure if the town is big enough for two discount carriers, and having a good Plan B in place might allow an airport to pick off AirTran for relocation elsewhere in the region. Which doesn't have the cachet of Southwest, but would noticably drop fares in other airports if they moved into Mobile, VPS, or Panama City.

 

[Will B]

I bow before you, Beachmouse! I have finally found my equal for talking airline stuff! Someone who gets it! You rock!

 

[beachmouse]

Smart, massively underemployed, and with an internet connection is a dangerous combination. Things are so dead here today I need to do something to keep from falling asleep on the job.

 

[SHELLY]

Looking at SWA's current route maps, the lowest volume airport they fly into east of Texas is Jackson, MS, which carries about 1.3 million passengers every year.

Passenger counts at assorted northern Gulf Coast airports, 2008 numbers:

RITA | BTS | Transtats

Pensacola - 1.53 million
Gulfport-Biloxi - 900K
VPS - 746K
Mobile - 572K
Panama City -332K

You can probably throw out Biloxi for being too close to New Orleans. Going in there would unnecessarily canibalize current service options.

So looking for another Jackson analog among the list, Mobile doesn't have the numbers to make it work, and even with pledges and financial offers, Panama City's numbers are so dismal right now that it's hard to justify starting a new service when existing demand is so weak. Jackson carries 400K Southwest passengers alone, and that's small annual load for SWA.

Unless Southwest is planning some sort of massive paradigm shift about moving into smaller East Coast markets (right now their sub-million passenger markets are in Texas) then Pensacola seems like it would be the best fit given what seems to be their current business plan.

One bright thing about Southwest going into Pensacola is that I'm not sure if the town is big enough for two discount carriers, and having a good Plan B in place might allow an airport to pick off AirTran for relocation elsewhere in the region. Which doesn't have the cachet of Southwest, but would noticably drop fares in other airports if they moved into Mobile, VPS, or Panama City.

Good stuff...my money is on PNS getting the nod from Southwest with VPS a close 2nd. Pensacola is a nice fit to that fabled 13-letter destination with an up-and-running customer base; and it certainly beats the hell out of an airstrip in a pine forest named "THE Beach" :roll: If AirTran decided to move out of PNS, I think they would opt to return to VPS over the "new" Panama City (aka THE Beach)--giving US Airways the opportunity to set up shop in THE Beach.

.