Passenger Demand Should Drive Air Service Decisions
Act Strategically…Not from Your Gut
Passenger demand should drive air service decisions. While this sounds so logical that it shouldn’t even be stated you’d be surprised by how many communities will make decisions by their gut or even a misplaced sense of logic.
It is less costly and easier to succeed when new air service market decisions are driven on historical passenger demand. This also lowers the airline’s risk.There are many data sources on air service traffic that can be used to aid you in your decision. Communities and airports would be wise to use this data. Why guess on passenger interest when you can know this interest. To use this air data most effectively in identifying the best air service acquisition options you may want to engage a consultant who has knowledge in interpreting the data accurately. This cost will be a good one because it improves your chances of long-term success of your air program.
Passenger demand should drive air service decisions. It is much more costly to successfully support markets when you have to create new demand. In some cases, particularly for tourism dominant leisure markets, you may have to do some market development in any potential acquired air market. In these cases we recommend coming out with a strong destination brand and knowing well what target customers your tourism community fits and will be appealing to. Knowing this will help you to find and rank the target air service markets to pursue acquiring service to.
When you know that passenger demand should drive your air service decisions you will save air service development funds and help give yourself the best chance for air service success.
Community Flights has developed over 35 best practices and guiding principles for communities looking to improve their air service. The above is just a small sample of a complete guidebook of best practice.
If you’d like to receive the complete guidebook for FREE: Community Flights Air Service Development Best Practices and Guiding Principles, email: scott@communityflights.com and ask that we send the full guide.
Scott Stewart is the principle of Community Flights; an air service support, development and management company. Community Flights works with communities, organizations or businesses on leveraging the great economic asset that air service is for economic gain. Scott formed Community Flights in January 2013 to help mobilize community support efforts and guide clients in bridging the “air service understanding gap” with the airlines to create an airline and community win-win air service support and performance environment. You can find more info about Community Flights at www.communityflights.com. Contact Scott Stewart directly at scott@communityflights.com