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Airport loses ground on passengers, market share [The News Herald, Panama City, Fla. :: ](News Herald (Panama City, FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 23--WEST BAY -- Despite an uptick of traffic as the Spring Break season kicked off last month, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) failed to increase passenger traffic year-over-year in March. Overall, the airport saw a nearly 10 percent decrease in passengers, falling from 171,741 in March 2013 to 155,161 this year. Executive Director Parker McClellan said some of the decrease could likely be linked to special introductory fares for Southwest Airlines flights out of Pensacola International Airport. Pensacola began offering daily flights to Houston and Nashville, also destinations from Bay County, last fall. "We're going to continue to watch this," McClellan said. "I think it will resolve itself over time as the fares balance back out in the next year or so in Pensacola." Additionally, officials reported a decline in the airport's regional market share. ECP held a 19 percent market share between January and March, falling behind both Tallahassee Regional Airport and Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) in Fort Walton Beach, which held 21 and 20 percent, respectively. Pensacola currently holds 40 percent of the market. By comparison, Beaches International held roughly 22 percent of the market between January and September of 2013, Tallahassee claimed 19, VPS held 20 and Pensacola held 40 percent. Chairman John Pilcher said that while he wasn't too concerned with the decline, it was something the board needed to watch closely. "That's what our job is; it's to look at every avenue to increase this traffic," Pilcher said. "We're an airport, that's what we are first, and it's no good if planes aren't coming in or they haven't got people on them." Board member Till Bruett suggested the airport try to refocus its marketing efforts to drum up traffic. McClellan said he will be meeting Bay County Tourist Development Council officials to discuss ways to better market the airport and should have suggestions ready to present at the board meeting in June. Despite continued declines in passenger traffic, administration director Pamn Henderson reported the airport is still "running in the black," with about $8 million in unrestricted funds. "We're still trying to hold the line down as much as we can," Henderson said. "We're still in a good position." Pilcher applauded staff for keeping a close eye on expenditures as less revenue comes in. "With those numbers down, I'm amazed we're maintaining the numbers that we are," Pilcher said. ___ (c)2014 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |