Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)
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Perhaps because Southwest doesn't currently fly into Val-P?
OP Stated: "We always fly into Pensacola, but it takes so long to make it to SoWal."
Southwest doesn't currently fly to Pensacola either. Hence my suggestion of Val-P for next visit vs. PNS.
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At the July 28 Airport Authority Board meeting, the Board received an update on the relocation project and awarded bids for the NAVAID package and exterior signage.
Airport Relocation Report
Three bids were submitted for consideration for the Runway 16/34 NAVAID and Air Traffic Control Tower equipment package at the new airport. Based on a review by PBS&J, the Board awarded the bid to Hypower, Inc. for $2,040,200.
Bid for Exterior Signage Package
Five bids were submitted for consideration for the Exterior Signage Package at the new airport. Based on a review by PBS&J, the Board awarded the bid to Panama City based Bell Signs for $691,890.88.
Bids submitted for the NAVAID package and exterior signs package can be downloaded here.
Airport Relocation Report
- 40% of the edge lighting on the Runway and Taxiways is complete.
- 63% of the utilities package is complete with all of the power distribution lines completed.
- 44% of the terminal package is complete. The terminal building, public safety building and the Air Traffic Control Tower are each about two weeks behind schedule while the Air Cargo and Air Maintenance buildings are ahead of schedule.
- The terminal roof is approximately 90% complete.
- The landscaping contract is underway and erosion measures and Best Management Practices (BMP) are in place along the main access road.
- There are 43 people working in Morrell Branch restoring the area and removing silt. Another 25 people are performing the same type work in Kelly Branch. Both crews are working 50 hours per week on the project.
Three bids were submitted for consideration for the Runway 16/34 NAVAID and Air Traffic Control Tower equipment package at the new airport. Based on a review by PBS&J, the Board awarded the bid to Hypower, Inc. for $2,040,200.
Bid for Exterior Signage Package
Five bids were submitted for consideration for the Exterior Signage Package at the new airport. Based on a review by PBS&J, the Board awarded the bid to Panama City based Bell Signs for $691,890.88.
Bids submitted for the NAVAID package and exterior signs package can be downloaded here.
VP is a great little airport - but in my experience, the flights there are much more expensive. The issue is cost. I currently choose Pensacola (even though it adds a 2 hour drive to my place) because it's cheaper.
Look at the record -- passengers always win when Southwest enters a market. Other airlines across the area will be forced to lower prices to compete. And every single time there has been a new airport built in the state of Florida, significant economic growth has followed. Southwest in a new airport will be an economic shot in the arm to an area that could use it -- and it will come just about the time the PC area will be coming out of its real estate slump.
I look at this from the perspective of a part-time 30A resident who lives full-time in the DC area. I desperately want a BWI to Bay County direct flight. The other side of the coin ... I am certain there are many people (especially military families) who would use flights in the other direction. I mean, who wouldn't want a cheap flight from PC to your nation's capital?
Come on Southwest --- we need you!
Look at the record -- passengers always win when Southwest enters a market. Other airlines across the area will be forced to lower prices to compete. And every single time there has been a new airport built in the state of Florida, significant economic growth has followed. Southwest in a new airport will be an economic shot in the arm to an area that could use it -- and it will come just about the time the PC area will be coming out of its real estate slump.
I look at this from the perspective of a part-time 30A resident who lives full-time in the DC area. I desperately want a BWI to Bay County direct flight. The other side of the coin ... I am certain there are many people (especially military families) who would use flights in the other direction. I mean, who wouldn't want a cheap flight from PC to your nation's capital?
Come on Southwest --- we need you!
VPS has always been more expensive than PFN. They need more airlines to compete in order to drop prices.
On the other hand, the flights into VPS are always packed to the gills at those high prices so there's no incentive to lower them. People are still choosing to fly there at a premium rather than PFN.
Pensacola is its own animal. It's a little too far removed from the area to be a player in the grand scheme of things. They probably share passenger load for the areas from VPS to points west, but I doubt they get many PFN passengers. Dothan is closer to PFN than Pensacola is...
On the other hand, the flights into VPS are always packed to the gills at those high prices so there's no incentive to lower them. People are still choosing to fly there at a premium rather than PFN.
Pensacola is its own animal. It's a little too far removed from the area to be a player in the grand scheme of things. They probably share passenger load for the areas from VPS to points west, but I doubt they get many PFN passengers. Dothan is closer to PFN than Pensacola is...
Pensacola and Mobile each try to poach the other city's air travelers. I've seen billboards for That Other Airport in each of the cities.
Somehow I just can't see Southwest going into the new PC airport anytime soon--I can be wrong (it's been known to happen once...maybe twice).
Southwest had its quarterly earnings call last week. Since Nov, they've reduced their flights by 300 (9%) and had to deeply discount fares to fill up planes. Even though their planes were filled above average capacity--their revenues were down below post 9-11 levels. Their business travel and freight revenues were in the toilet and they're very concerned about raising fuel costs going forward. They clearly played a great hand when they hedged the price of fuel last summer, but they currently haven't got a clue of how to play the market going forward.
From what I know about Southwest, and their penchant to minimize costs while maximizing revenue, I don't see them chomping at the bit to bring their airline into the middle of a pine forest where their pax (for the next several years) will be primarily seasonal tourists. And though "pax always win" when Southwest enters a market, Southwest doesn't make business decisions based on that premise.
I think that Val-P or Pensacola would be a better fit for their airline; each is flanked by midsized cities with business, military and tourist traffic (although I don't see them jumping on those in the near future either). I would think Pensacola would be choice #1, but AirTran already has that market.
I think the Coastal 3000 and their ilk are running on the "build it and they will come" mindset that is a product of the bubble era. The recession has changed everything and they just don't see it (or want to see it)...they're too busy looking in the rear view mirror...or just "in" the rear.
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I would much rather have Air Tran, they're known to have seasonal service. Myrtle Beach used to only have Air Tran during season. That would be fine with me as I really don't want to get the heck out of dodge until season hits. Since the military regularly charters planes with Air Tran it would seem like an easy move.