Comments on: Economic Development Potential for New Airport

By: Jellen

Jellen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:44:41 +0000

It’s my recollection that those larger planes were banned because the current airport’s runways were deemed too short to be safe for them.

By: Frequent Flyer

Frequent Flyer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:42:27 +0000

I have heard this debate in PCB for years. In my humble opinion airlines go where there is demand, not where there is a brand new airport.

Direct flights from New York or Chicago on larger aircraft would be great. Those flights currently don’t exist because the demand for them is not large enough to support the flight. Not because the airport can not physically handle them. The current airport’s runway and terminal could handle those flights now (727s flew into PC in the early 90s).

I support the new airport. But don’t look for any new service until there is more demand.

By: Jellen

Jellen — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:24:07 +0000

Michele, you are right on in your comments. PBMark sounds like he doesn’t get around much. I have trouble getting friends and relatives to visit PCB because it takes all day to fly here with the required layover enroute and now with Delta taking over Northwest, the price of flights to PFN have skyrocketed. We need competition on flights from the midwest and other markets. It’s so much cheaper and faster to fly OVER this area than to fly TO this area.

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:09:58 +0000

PBMark, The problem with the current airport is not lack of interest in the area, it is because of the limited nature of the current available flights. For example, to fly to PCB from the Midwest, you must fly into Atlanta or Memphis and changes planes then fly into PCB. Same issue from NY. This is a hassle for travelers and the flights are usually pricey, unless you stumble upon a rare deal. Travelers usually prefer non-stop flight destinations.

Get some non-stop flights into the new airport from the Midwest and East Coast, and PCB will see more growth from markets that have previously ignored it.

By: Jason Koertge

Jason Koertge — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:24:03 +0000

I am definately not new, but apparently you are new to this site. If you weren’t you would know that we have discussed very valid rebuttals to all your points.

I’m sorry sir, but you are just not correct.

By: PBMark

PBMark — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:00:57 +0000

Jason,
Are you new or have you recently been chugging the St Joe Koolaid? This airport is neither needed or wanted. We currently have 1 airline and 5 flights per day. A new airport will not bring in new airlines and passengers, only people will and we just don’t have the people for more airlines and definitely not enough to fill a large international plane. US Airways started here last April and left after only 5 months due to lack of interest and passengers.