gsupstate
Mar 17, 10, 7:57 am
Could whatever the new totally combined carrier ends up being/looking like eventually look at going into under-served, over-priced small-to-mid-size markets like GSP?
Our metro area is growing and has strong business activity, along with lots of people moving here from other regions "just because" (quality of life, lower cost of living, etc), but is continually overlooked by low-fare carriers. That is, except for Allegiant Air, who have done very well here, but that doesn't really count, as their flights are less than daily and they're all nonstops to Florida destinations with no onward connections.
As it is now, GSP serves about 40% of the number of passengers it should; 60% of our passengers don't use GSP due to high fares (driving mainly to ATL and CLT). GSP was recently noted as being among the 5 airline markets with the highest average fares. That 60% market leakage has got to be an opportunity for someone at GSP, am I wrong? Plus, lowering fares in general would stimulate even more demand, as people who previously didn't even consider flying would make plans to do so.
I would think there are lots of opportunities in other economically-robust metro areas/airline markets in a similar situation, where the right airline could come in and "clean up" by undercutting existing exorbitant fares and providing superior customer service (much like Independence Air did here before they ceased ops).
Our metro area is growing and has strong business activity, along with lots of people moving here from other regions "just because" (quality of life, lower cost of living, etc), but is continually overlooked by low-fare carriers. That is, except for Allegiant Air, who have done very well here, but that doesn't really count, as their flights are less than daily and they're all nonstops to Florida destinations with no onward connections.
As it is now, GSP serves about 40% of the number of passengers it should; 60% of our passengers don't use GSP due to high fares (driving mainly to ATL and CLT). GSP was recently noted as being among the 5 airline markets with the highest average fares. That 60% market leakage has got to be an opportunity for someone at GSP, am I wrong? Plus, lowering fares in general would stimulate even more demand, as people who previously didn't even consider flying would make plans to do so.
I would think there are lots of opportunities in other economically-robust metro areas/airline markets in a similar situation, where the right airline could come in and "clean up" by undercutting existing exorbitant fares and providing superior customer service (much like Independence Air did here before they ceased ops).