Tennessee Airports

Bears · July 18, 2006

I've flown from both MEM and BNA so I think I can make a fair assesment on both. I think both airports are of the same quality but MEM does play more of a role in the states economy.

Memphis

Pros:

Plenty of destinations (domestic and international)

Lots of space in the terminals and parking lots

Easy layout

Great selection of food and resturants

Usually seems empty

Largest player in the state's economy

Short lines

World class treatment for private and charter planes at the Wilson Air Center.

Cons:

Boring (compared to the other NWA hub I've been too, Detroit)

Only one lowfare carrier (Airtran)

The Airport area is trashy.

Little and difficult public transportation (light rail is taking too long!)

Service attendants seem to be in their own world

Nashville

Pros:

Low cost carriers

Efficent loading and unloading zones

Welcoming to tourists

In a clean area

Always seems busy (can be a pro or con)

Service attendants actually help!

Cons:

Boring too!!!

Little Parking

No public transportation

Not as many direct flights

Small spaces

Doesn't give off enough of the "Nashville" vibe

rocky top buzz · July 18, 2006

I will agree that MEM is more important in the state due primarily to FedEx, not NWA.

I think BNA is clean, has a nice appearence coming in from either the interstate or donelson pk, and has a great layout. The upcoming renovations will add that piece of Nashville we so desire. I don't see how parking is a problem. There is an entire overflow parking lot that I have never seen used. I typically park offisite anyway, but parking wouldn't be on my list of complaints.

I've been to MEM before. I knew it was a hub and thought it would be bigger than it is. Other than that, I don't remember to much about it.

I've haven't been in any of the other TN airports.

northernbizzkit1 · July 18, 2006

I will say that MEM is more important in the state due to FedEx which then causes NWA to be quite an importance. Having FedEx has made it where the airport has lowered landing fees at the airport which is causing NW to expand here. Furthermore, Northwest has helped MEM with the AMS flight and if we ever see a flight to NRT from the state, it will be on Northwest from MEM...this is all a pro for MEM.

My list:

MEM

Pro:

Northwest hub

Many destinations

Player in Caribbean network for Northwest

FedEx

Spacious

Known for few delays

Excellent location to where it plays as an Eastern hub as well as a centralized location

Upgrades are making it competitive to other, newer airports

Layout makes it where if one security bank is clogged, you can go through one at one of the other concourses and cross over the bridge behind security to get to the concourse you need

Con:

Old

Bad part of town

Lack of low fare carriers (can you count US Air as a low-fare carrier now?)

Congested international area in B

busiest concourse is the least attractive (apart from the Rotunda)

BNA

Pro:

Served primarily by low fare carriers (generates good O&D numbers)

Clean layout

Visually appealing

Efficient

Good location

Con:

Served primarily by low fare carriers

Not as many destinations

Has one terminal that is entirely vacant (is this still the case?)

Layout seems a bit poor for traffic at the check-in desks in some spots

Lexy · July 18, 2006

Con:
Served primarily by low fare carriers
Not as many destinations
Has one terminal that is entirely vacant (is this still the case?)
Layout seems a bit poor for traffic at the check-in desks in some spots

We have direct flights to every major city in the US, and even some mid-majors. So destinations shouldn't even be an issue here. But no, every terminal has something going on in it. The renovations will address the check-in desk two-fold. How can being served by low far carriers be a totally bad thing though? Remember, American Airlines has 7 gates here and NWA has three, US Airways has two or three. Delta, United, and Continental all still fly into and out of here, so the lack of 'heritage' carriers is a moot statement. I think we have a VERY healthy balance of low far and mainline carriers here. Far better than many airports our size as a matter of fact. And the Tokyo flight isn't a sure thing for MEM. That is still a question for the Nashville airport. Not once was Memphis brought up in the discussion about it, offically.

Hankster · July 18, 2006

I would love to see a complete list of nonstop destinations for each airport. I think that would make very a very interesting and imformative comparison.

Lexy · July 19, 2006

Hank, I hope this helps. It shows every flight (passenger) in Nashville and who flies them. If it is listed multiple times under the same airline, then they fly multiple flights. There is a margin of error on this list, so take it lightly.

Air Canada Daily Operations

Toronto, ON Air Canada/Jazz

Air Wisconsin (US Airways Express) Daily Operations

Philadelphia, PA Air Wisconsin

American Airlines Daily Operations

Dallas, TX American

Chicago, IL American

Dallas, TX American

Los Angeles, CA American

Dallas, TX American

Miami, FL American

New York, NY American

American Eagle (American Airlines) Daily Operations

Saint Louis, MO American Eagle

Chicago, IL American Eagle

Washington, DC American Eagle

Chicago, IL American Eagle

Miami, FL American Eagle

Chicago, IL American Eagle

Washington, DC American Eagle

Miami, FL American Eagle

Chicago, IL American Eagle

Washington, DC American Eagle

Chicago, IL American Eagle

Saint Louis, MO American Eagle

ASA (Delta) Daily Operations

Atlanta, GA Atlantic Southeast Airlines

Chautauqua Airlines (United) Daily Operations

Saint Louis, MO Chautauqua Airlines

Orlando, FL Chautauqua Airlines

Cincinnati, OH Chautauqua Airlines

Saint Louis, MO Chautauqua Airlines

Comair (Delta) Airlines Daily Operations

Cincinnati, OH Comair Inc.

New York, NY Comair Inc.

Cincinnati, OH Comair Inc.

Boston, MA Comair Inc.

Cincinnati, OH Comair Inc.

New York, NY Comair Inc.

Continental Airlines Daily Operations

Newark, NJ Continental Express