Airline Industry Volatility May Drive Myrtle Beach Airport Resolution
As Horry County and Myrtle Beach city officials continue to discuss the fate of the proposed new terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport, the volatile landscape of the airline industry may ultimately play the biggest role in its resolution.
The Sun News has reported extensively on the current stalemate between Horry County Council and the city’s Community Appearance Board, as they work together to resolve remaining questions about traffic flow, aesthetics and the new terminal’s proximity to new development at the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. However, the broader issue here is that sweeping changes in airline service to the Grand Strand are either already in play, or loom for seven of Myrtle Beach International’s nine carriers.
Myrtle Beach Direct Air and Southern Skyways launch their inaugural Myrtle Beach flights next month. Spirit’s new Myrtle Beach-Ft. Lauderdale flight opens up a slew of new transcontinental and Caribbean connection options. And if you think yesterday’s announcement of US Airways’ failed takeover bid of Delta means the end of “merger mania,” think again. Hot off the presses in the past 24 hour alone:
- In his “Today in the Sky” blog at USAToday.com, Ben Mutzabaugh reports on the Forbes.com assertion that Delta is still very much in play for another merger, contending that the airline simply cannot survive long-term on its own.
- Mutzabaugh also cites The Arizona Republic, the paper that extensively covers Phoenix-based US Airways, as quoting one analyst on the possibilities of a US Airways/United pairing.
- Arlene Fleming at About.com expands upon the rumors that initially surfaced in December 2006 about United and Continental joining forces. Fleming speculates that United has been waiting for the dust to settle on the US Airways/Delta situation; with yesterday’s announcement, this rumor stands to pick up some steam.
What does this all mean for Grand Strand air service? Granted, the ongoing “merger mania” discussions are speculative at best right now, and will take some time to sort themselves out. But right now, it’s safe to say that the sooner local officials finalize the game plan for airport expansion, the better prepared we’ll be to adapt to broader industry volatility.
If they can't work it out with the city, then they need to move quickly to build a new airport outside the city limits, off the Conway Bypass.
The CAB needs to get over themselves, the county needs to quit taking this process for granted, and everyone involved needs to get past the petty nonsense and look at the bigger picture. Just get it done already.
We have a golden opportunity to take a huge step that can take this area to the next level of economic development. I wish the powers that be would just do what needs to be done to move the airport project forward.
