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Hmm. Interesting location for a conference the keynote speaker of which will be a Southwest Airlines executive. It should be a good opportunity for Upstate and Lowcounty participants to look down their noses at their Midstate counterparts.
Hmm. Interesting location for a conference the keynote speaker of which will be a Southwest Airlines executive. It should be a good opportunity for Upstate and Lowcounty participants to look down their noses at their Midstate counterparts.
I would not read too much in to this conference. When Boeing decided to put a plant in Charleston, CAE had no chance at SWA. I don't see them adding a third destination in SC, they may not add service to Charlotte, even with the Air Tran purchase.
I wasn't suggesting that the conference's location might mean they will be bringing service to Columbia. I just would have thought the conference would be in Greenville or Charleston, what with the speaker being an SWA vice president. He might tread sort of lightly at the meeting.
I wasn't suggesting that the conference's location might mean they will be bringing service to Columbia. I just would have thought the conference would be in Greenville or Charleston, what with the speaker being an SWA vice president. He might tread sort of lightly at the meeting.
I agree, I was surprised to read that he will be in Columbia. After telling CAE where to go, he needs to be a little diplomatic when there. But, anyway, many cities have great success without SWA, Charlotte comes to mind.
I wasn't suggesting that the conference's location might mean they will be bringing service to Columbia. I just would have thought the conference would be in Greenville or Charleston, what with the speaker being an SWA vice president. He might tread sort of lightly at the meeting.
This is silly - it's a statewide conference that happens to be in Columbia. This is not a meeting of local business, government, and other leaders. Of course it might be a bit awkward if he personally gets into a conversation with Midlands-oriented folks, but I see this as him coming to South Carolina, not specifically coming to Columbia.
This is silly - it's a statewide conference that happens to be in Columbia. This is not a meeting of local business, government, and other leaders. Of course it might be a bit awkward if he personally gets into a conversation with Midlands-oriented folks, but I see this as him coming to South Carolina, not specifically coming to Columbia.
You wonder if it would have really made a difference if the Midlands leaders were "working together" when SW came to SC.... I mean it was likely a business decision and if incentives were needed either the Midlands ponied up and offered them or they didnt...Though I do think that Midlands leaders DO need to work more closely together I am starting to wonder if that wasnt just a scapegoat for SW so they wouldnt have to say.. "We just bookended yo azz as a better option for our bottom line and to fatten our shareholders pockets.....now Occupy that......."
You wonder if it would have really made a difference if the Midlands leaders were "working together" when SW came to SC.... I mean it was likely a business decision and if incentives were needed either the Midlands ponied up and offered them or they didnt...Though I do think that Midlands leaders DO need to work more closely together I am starting to wonder if that wasnt just a scapegoat for SW so they wouldnt have to say.. "We just bookended yo azz as a better option for our bottom line and to fatten our shareholders pockets.....now Occupy that......."
I think there is some truth to this. As I've mentioned several times in the Columbia forum, we simply do not have the high-value business base to justify a significant investment in terms of new flights, staff, etc. on a scale that Southwest finds profitable. This, at least, is their more recent business model.
I think all the low-hanging fruit in terms of smaller or "alternate" airports that they used to mine for new passengers have been picked (e.g., Jackson, MS, Providence and Manchester near Boston, etc.). It's kind of like Wal-Mart having saturated rural and exurban/suburban markets and is now only left with in-town, urban markets where they have not yet reached.
Of course, it is still well worth it for Midlands leaders to continue working to come together for more aggressive economic development.
You wonder if it would have really made a difference if the Midlands leaders were "working together" when SW came to SC.... I mean it was likely a business decision and if incentives were needed either the Midlands ponied up and offered them or they didnt...
The Midlands did offer up an incentive.....10 million to Southwest and Southwest said "no, thank you". There were no incentives offered from either GSP or CHS.
Maybe City Data posters should do as CAE has done on this issue and move on.
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