Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

[SHELLY]

And you think a measly 1/2 cent bed tax increase will get them here?

...not Southwest--but I'd bet the farm that there's a place for Odom's Fly-By-Night Airways

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[Will B]

Surprisingly, he made no mention of opening up full service to a new hub at THE? Beach Airport. :roll:

Southwest does not operate on the hub and spoke principal. The closest thing they have to a hub is Dallas only because that's where they are based. All of their service is point to point with no luggage agreements with other air lines.

Of all the theories of new service to the airport, Southwest makes the most sense. They have low overhead and serve an area of the country that does not have direct access to NW Fla without connecting. If they come, look for two or three flights a day to start with, but considering the fact that there are so many empty seats flying into PC, it may be a while before we see any big changes...

 

[beachmouse]

The one discount airline that might be a good fit for PCB, provided the local hotels and condo management firms play nice, is Allegiant Air, which specializes in low cost airfare plus hotel packages.

Discount Flights and Vacation Packages | Airfare & Hotel Packages from Allegiant Air

I hadn't heard of them until parents recently mentioned that they could now get a super cheap direct flight with them from Grand Rapids to either Las Vegas or Orlando, but it seems like PCB would work well with their existing business model.

 

[GoodWitch58]

The one discount airline that might be a good fit for PCB, provided the local hotels and condo management firms play nice, is Allegiant Air, which specializes in low cost airfare plus hotel packages.

Discount Flights and Vacation Packages | Airfare & Hotel Packages from Allegiant Air

I hadn't heard of them until parents recently mentioned that they could now get a super cheap direct flight with them from Grand Rapids to either Las Vegas or Orlando, but it seems like PCB would work well with their existing business model.

Do you suppose the people at The Beach know about them yet?

 

[beachmouse]

Probably not considering the general lack of vision at Coastal Vision and other such organizations.

 

[GoodWitch58]

yeah...:roll:

 

[Kurt]

Terminal building photos:

 

[Kurt]

http://www.newsherald.com/news/west-75205-airport-bay.html

The new airport under construction near West Bay is proceeding on schedule and should be completed by the May 2010 target date, airport officials said Friday.

Jeff Dealy of KBR, program manager for the relocation project, said he was more worried about getting the various agency occupants moved onto the complex in a timely fashion.

"That would be our one hiccup," Dealy said. He was referring to the different agencies slated to move into the new terminal structure, including the Transportation Security Adminstration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and various car rental firms and air carriers.

"Everyone is up to date, but there is still some work to be done," he said.

Space also is being allocated for a Bay County Chamber of Commerce Business Center and the Bay County Tourist Development Council, said Randy Curtis, executive director of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport, which is moving its operations to the new site.

The 8,400-foot runway is now 100-percent complete, and construction teams are awaiting FAA approval before extending it to 10,000 feet. Once approval is gained, the extension should take about two months to complete, officials said.

The 120,000-square-foot airport terminal, more than twice as large as the current structure in Panama City, is now about a third complete, Curtis said. The $62.8 million terminal complex always has been seen as the heart of the new $318 million airport taking shape near West Bay. The old terminal was only about 57,000 square feet, Curtis said.

"They are getting pretty close, about two-thirds, to at least having everything under a roof," he said.

Curtis said the new terminal complex will not only consist of the main terminal and a 147-foot air traffic control tower, but will host a public safety building, a maintenance building, a cargo building and a rental car area.

"We are all moving toward that May date," Curtis said.

On its first floor, the main terminal will house a ticket area for airlines, space for five rental car agencies, a baggage claim area with three conveyer belts, a restaurant and a gift shop with newsstand, Curtis said.

The upper level will consist of the passenger boarding area, airport administration offices, a second restaurant and a lounge area dedicated for the military.

One of the main goals of the new airport has been to "make it more efficient for processing both baggage and passengers," Curtis said.

 

[SHELLY]

Jeff Dealy of KBR, program manager for the relocation project, said he was more worried about getting the various agency occupants moved onto the complex in a timely fashion.

"That would be our one hiccup," Dealy said. He was referring to the different agencies slated to move into the new terminal structure, including the Transportation Security Adminstration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and various car rental firms and air carriers.

That's one big-arse hiccup there Jeff.

Suggest they pack all the office junk, food prep stuff and candy/gum from newsstand into one aircraft and fly over from Panama City Airport; and then have all the people pack up their personal desk items and plants in a cardboard box and just drive over in rental cars..problem solved. My bill for consultation services will be in the mail tomorrow.

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[scooterbug44]

Southwest does not operate on the hub and spoke principal. The closest thing they have to a hub is Dallas only because that's where they are based. All of their service is point to point with no luggage agreements with other air lines.

Of all the theories of new service to the airport, Southwest makes the most sense. They have low overhead and serve an area of the country that does not have direct access to NW Fla without connecting. If they come, look for two or three flights a day to start with, but considering the fact that there are so many empty seats flying into PC, it may be a while before we see any big changes...

I flew into PC for the first time Sunday - stretched out across 2 seats in an exit row. First time I have been able to do that in a long time. Every flight I take in/out of VPS and other airports is completely full - often w/ a standby list.

The new airport seems to be progressing well, but IMO the demand is not yet there by a long shot.