Transportation

[tombarnes]

GPT Expansion Opens This Week

The expansion of the terminal at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport opens Tuesday. The terminal will have been expanded to 176,000+ sq. feet and will offer space for two additional airlines. In addition, a new lounge for the USO will serve military passengers. New restaurants wiull be opening as well. I have not seen the airport recently when it has not been in the throes of rebuilding. The paint won't be dry on this expansion before discussions begin on another probable expansion to open in 2012.

The Sun Herald

[tombarnes]

Skybus Folds

The discount carrier Skybus had already announced that it was pulling out of the GPT market last week. Suddenly, they have folded completely, becoming the third US airline to do so within a week. What this means for the industry is unclear, but I wonder if the bloodletting isn't done with just yet.

Yahoo News

[tombarnes]

AirTran To Leave GPT Market

AirTran Airways will leve Gulfport/Biloxi on the 5th of January, 2009. This is chiefly because the casino consortium which had subsidized the service is no longer willing to do so. The Beau Rivage and other casinos had subsidized the flights to Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa since 1999. While there is still substantial air service into the market, there will be no low-cost carrier operating out of GPT. Expect fares to rise substantially. it's possible that the casinos may resort to some kind of charter service, but this is a major blow to the airport and to the region- especially if fares rise considerably.

The Sun Herald

[jeffconn]

AirTran To Leave GPT Market

AirTran Airways will leve Gulfport/Biloxi on the 5th of January, 2009. This is chiefly because the casino consortium which had subsidized the service is no longer willing to do so. The Beau Rivage and other casinos had subsidized the flights to Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa since 1999. While there is still substantial air service into the market, there will be no low-cost carrier operating out of GPT. Expect fares to rise substantially. it's possible that the casinos may resort to some kind of charter service, but this is a major blow to the airport and to the region- especially if fares rise considerably.

The Sun Herald

[Southron]

It was nice actually having competition for the trip to Atlanta. Guess it's back to the Delta monopoly?

[tombarnes]

I was just glancing at a casino forum where posters from Florida and Virginia were complaining that they would probably be flying to Vegas instead of Biloxi now that the AirTran service is ending. While I understand the short-term economics of the move, I think it is unbeleivably stupid of the casinos to have ended the subsidy in the long-term.

[jeffconn]

Return to the Coast: AirTran resumes service to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport

http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/1854445.html

Air Tran is back in Gulfport 3 days a week. Going to Atlanta and Tampa non-stop.

[jeffconn]

Startup airline to offer service from Gulfport to Branson, Mo.

I missed this last month. This new airline is offering non-stop service from Branson to GPT 3 days a week. Apparently, the service has started with good ticket buying so far.