Columbus Metropolitan Seeking New Airlines and Routes (Macon, Auburn: prices, airport)

[Columbus1984]

Great news from Sixel Consulting Group on the expansion of new airlines and routes out of Columbus. The company finally compiled their analysis of expanding air service out of CSG. With the new grant given to the airport, hopefully this will lead to more airlines and future routes. Here are their findings:

1) Columbus Catchment Area Population - 610,924

2) The Greater Columbus Catchment Area Population - 1.2 million

3) Passengers coming from the Columbus MSA - 55%

4) Passengers coming from the Auburn MSA - 24%

5) CSG only retains 9% or 109,000 of the regions passenger opportunity. This leads to huge potential for
additional airlines and routes.

6) 90.5% or 1,092,812 passengers use Hartsfield-Jackson


Primary service target will be focused on Charlotte and Orlando. Next focus will be flights to Chicago, Washington D.C., and Dallas/Fort Worth.

CSG recently received a $750,000 service grant. This will be used to attract American Airlines to the city. Can you imagine having flights to these cities in the future? CSG is a decent size airport with huge potential. Looking forward to future announcements.

[DWColumbus]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

Great news from Sixel Consulting Group on the expansion of new airlines and routes out of Columbus. The company finally compiled their analysis of expanding air service out of CSG. With the new grant given to the airport, hopefully this will lead to more airlines and future routes. Here are their findings:

1) Greater Columbus Catchment Area Population - 610,924

2) The Greater Columbus Catchment Area Population - 1.2 million

3) Passengers coming from the Columbus MSA - 55%

4) Passengers coming from the Auburn MSA - 24%

5) CSG only retains 9% or 109,000 of the regions passenger opportunity. This leads to huge potential for
additional airlines and routes.

6) 90.5% or 1,092,812 passengers use Hartsfield-Jackson


Primary service target will be focused on Charlotte and Orlando. Next focus will be flights to Chicago, Washington D.C., and Dallas/Fort Worth.

CSG recently received a $750,000 service grant. This will be used to attract American Airlines to the city. Can you imagine having flights to these cities in the future? CSG is a decent size airport with huge potential. Looking forward to future announcements.

That's great! #5 is no surprise, I know our airport is currently underutilized. I know in the past I there were times I would have used the Charlotte, Orlando and Chicago flights had they been available. It will be great to see the airport really taking off! (pun very much intended)

[SwiftyCHS]

I've mentioned this before. And I really don't think it will ever ever happen...but Columbus should partner with Ft. Benning, Phenix City, Auburn, and Opelika to build a larger regional airport in Western Alabama. The current CSG airfield is landlocked (and could be better served as a retail/commercial development) and it's more of a hike than it needs to be in order to attract more people from the Auburn/Opelika area.

[Stinky Rose]

They HAD an excellent CSG-DFW route with two flights in and out per day until last June. When they first started (2010 I think), they promised to keep them if both flights were close to capacity. EVERY time I tried to book a flight or flew that route, it was full or almost full. They STILL did away with them. There are SO many families that use DFW with families here at Benning and that was the reason they started that route.

I don't trust them now. I feel like I got burned.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by Stinky Rose

They HAD an excellent CSG-DFW route with two flights in and out per day until last June. When they first started (2010 I think), they promised to keep them if both flights were close to capacity. EVERY time I tried to book a flight or flew that route, it was full or almost full. They STILL did away with them. There are SO many families that use DFW with families here at Benning and that was the reason they started that route.

I don't trust them now. I feel like I got burned.

It's unfortunate because of the merger. The Columbus route was very successful. American was actually talking about adding a 3rd flight but the merger happened. I can see them coming back. I would like to see Southwest come in. That would open Columbus up to a lot of routes.

[jlaud12]

Would love to see Columbus get more airlines and routes. Your airport is very nice and has a lot of opportunity for growth. With large corporate base, Fort Benning, and Auburn just down the road, Columbus would do well. Definitely more of an opportunity for you guys compared to Macon or Augusta.

[Stinky Rose]

I would like to see Southwest come in. That would open Columbus up to a lot of routes.

I agree!

[columbusmetro89]

The Columbus airport would attract even more airlines If they would lower there ticket prices. The Columbus airport is expensive for flights.