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TIA could seek more flights

By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: July 3, 2009

TAMPA - Although Tampa International Airport only has six international destinations, it could find opportunities in pursuing additional direct service to Frankfurt, Germany; San Jose, Costa Rica; Montreal, Quebec; and Grand Cayman, a nearly completed consultant's report shows.

That's because TIA draws 73 percent of the international air passengers who fly from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, said the report, released to a local air service development group this week.

Miami International Airport draws 15 percent and Orlando International Airport 7 percent of international travelers from the local area, the report by Seabury Aviation and Aerospace found.

But the report notes the dearth of international flights from TIA, which has 812 daily seats on direct international flights, compared with 5,365 from Orlando and 29,534 from Miami.

The complete, $25,000 report to update one conducted by another firm in 2005 is expected to be released within two months.

The report also suggested that TIA could benefit from seeking additional domestic flights to Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

But don't count on expansion any time soon.

"The airline environment is brutal right now," the Seabury report states.

Airlines are not in an expansion mode. Delta Air Lines recently began to retract from its 2007 strategy to expand international flying.

However, TIA officials continue to pursue additional flights, with meetings scheduled this month in New York with JetBlue Airways, following a session in Dallas in May with Southwest Airlines.

Among preliminary findings released to local visitors and economic development officials:

•As carriers trim flights, TIA losses in airline seat capacity are in line with similar markets. Tampa lost 14 percent of its airline seats between May 2008 and May, compared with a 16 percent loss in Fort Lauderdale and a 12 percent loss in Orlando.

•TIA's fares and capacity levels are much better than many similar-sized cities. Lower fares save the community $341 million annually, the report said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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