Columbia Metropolitan Airport passenger numbers (hotel, transport, tickets)

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by Palmetto_Guy

How exactly can or should Columbia get out of its comfort zone? By trying to land a big automotive plant like the Upstate? Or something else, like this?

I think the reality is that the automotive plants, suppliers, and other related firms will continue to gravitate to the Upstate because of the critical mass they have in that cluster & economic ecosystem. Except for the Michelin tire plant in Lexington, automotive industries in the Midlands seems to be geared towards large trucks and has been hit-or-miss (e.g., Siemens Diesel in Blythewood, the former Mack Truck plant in Winnsboro).

The link you provided is a very good example of what we could be going after in the Midlands. I will say that the "other" Columbia, which is a much smaller town and has minimal airline service (on the order of Florence's) seems to have at least somewhat better metrics in terms of education, income, etc. compared to us here in the Midlands. Midwestern college towns NOT directly associated with a state capital like Columbia, Lawrence, Iowa City, etc. tend to be sort of over-achievers overall. Nevertheless, with our insurance IT sector, we could at least begin marketing ourselves to such companies and opportunities.

I would also let go of solely marketing the Innovista and its "creative class" pretenses associated with downtown & the city and broaden the scope to suburban properties and area such as in Blythewood (where a lot of the insurance IT sector is located through PMSC/Mynd/CSC and nearby BCBS). As much as some may hate the suburban location of such jobs vs. downtown, it is how much of the IT industry works (i.e., newer sprawling office parks vs. denser downtown buildings). It's how it works in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle with its Research Triangle Park - downtown is only recently beginning to look bigger than downtown Columbia, and it's also mostly associated with state government, the nearby NCSU campus, and some regional F.I.R.E. offices. Partnering with USC would be a good idea (again, despite being potentially away from Innovista) as it does have a decent insurance-oriented IT program.

[Columbiadata]

Originally Posted by gsupstate

And there are several positives as to how your post would relate to the thread title of "CAE passenger numbers".
- It would be logical to assume by your post that the 4 years of passenger number decline at CAE will reverse itself. It should probably happen this year, I would think, before CAE drops below 1 million in total (enplaned and deplaned) passengers.
- Logic would also tell us that Southwest would realize their service to GSP and CHS only were mistakes and that CAE should be added. The potential passengers should be in the area to make Southwest successful should they enter CAE.
- Existing legacy airlines would logically start flying larger mainline planes into CAE as opposed to the current RJ's in use.

Wouldn't all of those things be wonderful, though not necessary?

[Palmetto_Guy]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

I think the reality is that the automotive plants, suppliers, and other related firms will continue to gravitate to the Upstate because of the critical mass they have in that cluster & economic ecosystem. Except for the Michelin tire plant in Lexington, automotive industries in the Midlands seems to be geared towards large trucks and has been hit-or-miss (e.g., Siemens Diesel in Blythewood, the former Mack Truck plant in Winnsboro).

The link you provided is a very good example of what we could be going after in the Midlands. I will say that the "other" Columbia, which is a much smaller town and has minimal airline service (on the order of Florence's) seems to have at least somewhat better metrics in terms of education, income, etc. compared to us here in the Midlands. Midwestern college towns NOT directly associated with a state capital like Columbia, Lawrence, Iowa City, etc. tend to be sort of over-achievers overall. Nevertheless, with our insurance IT sector, we could at least begin marketing ourselves to such companies and opportunities.

I would also let go of solely marketing the Innovista and its "creative class" pretenses associated with downtown & the city and broaden the scope to suburban properties and area such as in Blythewood (where a lot of the insurance IT sector is located through PMSC/Mynd/CSC and nearby BCBS). As much as some may hate the suburban location of such jobs vs. downtown, it is how much of the IT industry works (i.e., newer sprawling office parks vs. denser downtown buildings). It's how it works in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle with its Research Triangle Park - downtown is only recently beginning to look bigger than downtown Columbia, and it's also mostly associated with state government, the nearby NCSU campus, and some regional F.I.R.E. offices. Partnering with USC would be a good idea (again, despite being potentially away from Innovista) as it does have a decent insurance-oriented IT program.

Good information. Have you also read this article (http://www.thestate.com/2011/02/20/1703984/columbia-richland-most-expensive.html - broken link)? What are your thoughts?

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by Palmetto_Guy

Good information. Have you also read this article (http://www.thestate.com/2011/02/20/1703984/columbia-richland-most-expensive.html - broken link)? What are your thoughts?

I'd read that article some time back. A lot of this rings true in my mind. It goes back to what I've mentioned before in this forum (in a separate thread) - the taxes or tax rates per say aren't the only reason why get Richland/Columbia behind, it's the red tape that hinders businesses. We simply do not have enough public servants that are on the ball with helping businesses. Instead of public servants, we have too many bureaucrats. The environment on the east side of the Congagree definitely has a higher "DURT" factor (Delay, Uncertainty, Regulation, and Taxes), and there are many facets of this.

One example is the continued lack of any meaningful cooperation between the Richland County & City of Columbia planning departments. I've noticed a markedly more professional and outgoing attitude among Lexington County planning department folks (I speak from personal professional experience being a certified planner). Of course there is no large city on the west side of the river to be a "rival" fighting turf battles with the County, but nevertheless there is a noticeable difference in attitude.

That doesn't mean everyone is all happy-go-lucky with economic development (I know the Amazon sales tax and blue law issues rub some LexCo residents the wrong way, and understandably so).

[AirGeek]

Cuts coming summer to CAE on UA/CO while merger continues. Traffic off 15%+ for UA/CO. CAE in trouble.

[Palmetto_Guy]

Chi2Midlands, are you active in the local political scene? I think you need to be if you aren't.

[Woodlands]

Southwest completes $1 billion deal for AirTran - baltimoresun.com

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

Southwest completes $1 billion deal for AirTran - baltimoresun.com

Not sure why/if you're confused. The Southwest/AirTran merger has not much to do with CAE's fundamental traffic issues and challenges. Neither airline has ever served CAE. AirTran has tried and failed to serve Myrtle Beach, and then Charleston, via Atlanta.

I do think that GSP and CHS will now be connected to a much bigger, business-friendlier network. What will be interesting is to see what new frequencies and cities the post-merger Southwest might add to GSP and CHS. I'm not 100% sure they will start Atlanta flights from the two SC airports as they can probably serve many markets without connecting through ATL, but you never know. I think Baltimore frequencies will increase, as both AirTran and Southwest have very large presences there, and will now be their de facto East Coast fortress hub post-merger. Florida flights could increase as both carriers have major presences there and historically SC seems to have weak air connections to the south. Dallas and/or St. Louis might be added to increase westward traffic. CHS might pick up some New York-area flights eventually. Of course, this is all speculation, but it will be interesting to watch how the merger affects GSP and CHS in the coming years.

The other thing that will be interesting is how Southwest integrates Charlotte into its network. AirTran serves ATL, Baltimore, and Orlando from there, so they have a fairly limited footprint there. Since Atlanta is the new crown jewel of post-merger Southwest, I expect more incremental rather than dramatic expansions at CLT. I can see Southwest adding Chicago-Midway, Nashville, Florida, and New York-area flights eventually, but not much more if they continue to rely on Atlanta as a big feeder.

If anything, having 3 solid post-merger Southwest options within 90 minutes or so of CAE worsens the leakage problem even more. We will still have our basic, stable connections to major hubs in the eastern half of the country and to the big DC/NYC business markets, but we will not benefit from a diversified carrier base and attendant fare discipline to the extent our more dynamic neighbors along I-26 and I-77 do.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

Not sure why/if you're confused. The Southwest/AirTran merger has not much to do with CAE's fundamental traffic issues and challenges. Neither airline has ever served CAE. AirTran has tried and failed to serve Myrtle Beach, and then Charleston, via Atlanta.

I do think that GSP and CHS will now be connected to a much bigger, business-friendlier network. What will be interesting is to see what new frequencies and cities the post-merger Southwest might add to GSP and CHS. I'm not 100% sure they will start Atlanta flights from the two SC airports as they can probably serve many markets without connecting through ATL, but you never know. I think Baltimore frequencies will increase, as both AirTran and Southwest have very large presences there, and will now be their de facto East Coast fortress hub post-merger. Florida flights could increase as both carriers have major presences there and historically SC seems to have weak air connections to the south. Dallas and/or St. Louis might be added to increase westward traffic. CHS might pick up some New York-area flights eventually. Of course, this is all speculation, but it will be interesting to watch how the merger affects GSP and CHS in the coming years.

The other thing that will be interesting is how Southwest integrates Charlotte into its network. AirTran serves ATL, Baltimore, and Orlando from there, so they have a fairly limited footprint there. Since Atlanta is the new crown jewel of post-merger Southwest, I expect more incremental rather than dramatic expansions at CLT. I can see Southwest adding Chicago-Midway, Nashville, Florida, and New York-area flights eventually, but not much more if they continue to rely on Atlanta as a big feeder.

If anything, having 3 solid post-merger Southwest options within 90 minutes or so of CAE worsens the leakage problem even more. We will still have our basic, stable connections to major hubs in the eastern half of the country and to the big DC/NYC business markets, but we will not benefit from a diversified carrier base and attendant fare discipline to the extent our more dynamic neighbors along I-26 and I-77 do.

Thanks for your insight.. I was just curious on what it could mean for for CAE....seems like from your information it could be a bad thing or atleast not necessarily benefit CAE in the long run

[Woodlands]

Flew into CAE this past weekend (Mother's Day)..this will probably be the last time in awhile that I do that due to the fares.. I had some miles I had to burn on US Airways. This may have been discussed before.. but I noticed that only smaller 'regional/commuter' jets parked around the terminal.. I guess this may be what the industry is going to in smaller cities. Going to and from the terminal passenger traffic was lighter than I expected... I enjoyed being able to go through security with relative ease. I was slightly amused when the pilot said.. "looks like we are number one for take off".... Im like dude you have been working too long... of course we are number one.. this aint CLT. I still like the feel of CAE.. once the expressway is built to connect it directly to I-26 access will be improved tremendously.Landing in CLT was a whole different ballgame..it took us longer to find a gate than the flight from CAE to CLT.

Regional/Commuter jets jam packed all around Terminal E in CLT. There were jets cued up several yards from the gates releasing passengers becase all the gates were full. It seems that US Air has gotten rid of its little puddle jumpers.. The small 10-15 passenger school buses with wings that flew over to places like Jacksonville NC or Pinehurst...I still like CLT as a connection better than ATL....if one must connect