AirTran Airways pulls out of Charleston International Airport

AirTran Airways has withdrawn from Charleston International Airport in Charleston, South Carolina, the United States, because of what it says a shortage of business travellers to and from the airport.

It was in 2007 that AirTran Airways, the low-cost airline based in Orlando, Florida, the United States, started service to and from Charleston International Airports.

According to a report in the Charleston-based newspaper The Post and Courier, executives of AirTran Airways had, in October 2009, complained about a dearth of business travellers from Charleston, when the airline’s business had declined considerably and it was struggling to make profits.

Though the Charleston County Aviation Authority has estimated that flights of AirTran Airways to and from Charleston International Airport were usually 80% filled, a majority of those passengers were vacation travellers who pay low prices, instead of business travellers who usually fly in the premium-class.

Media reports said that the authorities of Charleston International Airport are working on a programme of incentives aimed at attracting budget airlines to the airport. One incentive that is being considered is waiving landing fees, which costs a carrier about $3,500 a year.

It may be noted that Charleston was one of the most expensive cities to reach via air transport before the arrival of AirTran Airways there in 2007, since most of the partner airlines of Charleston International Airport are big companies.

Aviation experts have estimated that, thanks to AirTran Airways, air passengers to and from Charleston – which is nicknamed the Holy City because of the presence of a large number of churches – could save around $80 million annually.

Now, in the absence of a low-fare airline, ticket prices from Charleston will increase by around 40%, and in certain cases, could more than double.

According to Travel Management Group, based in North Charleston, a roundtrip flight between Charleston International Airport and New York City cost about $300 when AirTran Airways was in operation. Now, the same flight costs as much as $800.

After AirTran Airways withdrew from Charleston International Airport, no low-fare airline has so far agreed to fly to the airport. However, the airport authorities are holding negotiations with budget carriers to fly to Charleston, according to media reports.

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, operates flights mainly in the eastern and mid-western United States. Its chief hub is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.