Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

[Smiling JOe]

Just curious to know how many of those VPS passengers in the counts were military flying for almost free. VPS IS on the base of Eglin, the world's largest Air Force base.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Also, we are looking only at passenger counts. I don't know anything about the airline industry in particular, but will SouthWest also look at things like operating costs? Will the PCB airport offer less expensive operating costs for the airlines because of its modern facilities?

 

[beachmouse]

If St. Joe keeps subsidizing heavily, then landing slots will be relatively cheap there. From what I remember, VPS is a budget place to land- the military is a cheap landlord when it comes to runway fees and the airport authority passes along those low runway costs to client airlines.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Just curious to know how many of those VPS passengers in the counts were military flying for almost free. VPS IS on the base of Eglin, the world's largest Air Force base.

SJ, why do you say the military fly for "almost free". Many of the ones who deploy, do so on military aircraft. Others who fly commercial do pay for tickets. Often my son's commercial tickets have cost as much as anyone else's.
Just curious about what you were referencing.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I thought that airlines allowed active military to fly for something like $10 per seat. Maybe that was in the old days, or maybe only one or two airlines do that.

 

[SHELLY]

I thought that airlines allowed active military to fly for something like $10 per seat.

Hokey Smoke, Rocky!...if that were true, there wouldn't be any room on board aircraft for full-fare civilians! (Except on flights to Cutbank, Montana in February).

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[GoodWitch58]

I thought that airlines allowed active military to fly for something like $10 per seat. Maybe that was in the old days, or maybe only one or two airlines do that.

I'm not sure where you got that idea from. Here is the reality version. Active duty military who fly on commercial planes(for military purposes) often must purchase their own tickets and be reimbursed just as any other business person; sometimes, the military office will have a contracted price with certain airlines, just like the State of Florida sometimes does; occasionally, the military person has the ticket purchased for them and do not have to wait for reimbursement; but always, the airline is paid for the ticket by the military either through direct purchase, or reimbursement to the member, same as any other organization pays. In fact, sometimes even when flying on a military aircraft, there is a charge per person to the military unit.

 

[scooterbug44]

Just curious to know how many of those VPS passengers in the counts were military flying for almost free. VPS IS on the base of Eglin, the world's largest Air Force base.

Based on my experiences flying through VPS, military passengers are a minority of the passengers. Yes, there are more than on other flights I take, and it's rare to be on a flight w/o military personnel, but most of my fellow passengers are civilians who live in the area, are visiting on business, are retired military, or are on vacation.

Many airports (even the major ones) share runway space with the military - either regular or reserve units - so it's not a deal killer IMO.

 

[beachmouse]

A ways back, the mister ended up next to a group of Canadian engineers on his MEM-VPS leg. Their company needed to do engine testing in climate-controlled sub-zero temperatures, and it was cheaper and easier for the company to rent time at McKinley climate lab on base than to do their cold weather testing somewhere in Canada. (It would have been interesting to see the reaction when someone first proposed going from Alberta to Florida for cold weather testing. I'm sure they got chuckles before they showed that the numbers did work.)

There's a lot of high tech stuff surrounding Eglin that tends to slip below peoples' awareness if they aren't directly involved in it.

 

[SHELLY]

Many airports (even the major ones) share runway space with the military - either regular or reserve units - so it's not a deal killer IMO.

... Hickam AFB and Honolulu International have shared a runway for over 50 years.

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