Charter Flights May Grow At MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
Cargo Success Is Likelier, Analyst Says
MidAmerica Airport, Illinois (August 19, 2002) -- MidAmerica St. Louis Airport already has a tenant -- Festus, MO-based Multi-Aero -- that offers business travelers the increasingly popular option of charter flights.
Airline industry analysts agree that charter flights, particularly for business travelers, will grow. However, a St. Louis area analyst said cargo service, rather than charter flights, is more likely to take off at MidAmerica.
"It's largely a matter of the genie is out of the bottle," said Meara McLaughlin, vice president of digital services for Air Charter Guide. Business travelers "are increasingly looking at charter as an option for all their trips."
So as demand for corporate charters grows, could that mean increased charter business for MidAmerica St. Louis Airport?
Tim Cantwell, the airport's director, said the airport is ready for more charter companies to move in and provide service.
"Here at MidAmerica, we're pretty easy for charter service," he said, citing the airport's lack of crowds and ample parking.
But when asked if charter flights could be a significant presence at MidAmerica, Juli Niemann -- an airline industry analyst with R.T. Jones Capital Equities in Clayton, MO -- said "probably not."
The reason: the airport's distance from the city of St. Louis.
Airport marketing documents note MidAmerica is 25 minutes away from the Gateway Arch.
Multi-Aero offers charter flights through its Share a Flight program. Customers can create their own schedule or join on with a schedule another passenger has proposed. The company also offers a Share a Flight membership program designed for frequent charter travelers. In addition, Multi-Aero offers scheduled flights from MidAmerica to Chicago's Midway Airport through its Air Choice One program.
Niemann said the reason charter flights are growing in popularity, and will continue to, is the time it takes to get through airport security.
"Charter flights will continue to expand as long as we have security measures that offer no security but successfully slow down travel to glacial speeds," she said. "You've got two hours of nonsense."
In January, 73 percent of air charter operators had average increases of 28 percent over January 2001, according to a survey by Air Charter Guide, an industry publication.
Although Niemann doesn't think charter flights will be a big presence at MidAmerica, she said the airport does have a good future as a cargo airport. She said access to the city hurts the airport for charter flights, but said the airport is geographically well positioned to act as a cargo center. Niemann said Memphis, TN, is one of the nation's largest cargo hub in the nation, and said MidAmerica can challenge it.
"Let's take a little bite out of Memphis' lunch. MidAmerica can do that," she said. "It makes so much sense to go to cargo -- take it all away from Lambert."
Next month, Cantwell said he will travel to Hong Kong for the International Air Cargo Association Convention, where he will try to sell cargo companies on coming to MidAmerica.
"I'm going to try and find somebody who wants to come over here and use this place," Cantwell said. "The biggest improvement MidAmerica can offer to metropolitan St. Louis is cargo service."
The airport will get federal help in luring a cargo company, in the form of a $6 million, 50,000 square foot federally funded cargo terminal. Cantwell said the terminal can be built the way a company wants it. MidAmerica will receive the money through the Military Airport Program, which provides Federal Aviation Administration money for converting military airports to civilian use, or for enhancing joint-use airports like MidAmerica.
"We're a build-to-suit airport with river and road connections -- and train," Cantwell said.
Cantwell also said the airport is capable of offering nonhub passenger flights, and said it is important for the airport to house a variety of tenants from many sectors of the aviation industry.
"A healthy airport has all aviation service," he said.
Information provided by the Belleville News-Democrat
David van den Berg Article © the Belleville News-Democrat
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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