According to data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the 100 largest airports, Savannah/Hilton Head International had the fifth highest fares in the nation in the first quarter of 2013.
Savannah’s average itinerary fare of $493 was well above the national average of $379.
So it’s certainly good news that JetBlue Airways will begin doing business at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
JetBlue’s two flights per day to New York City, scheduled to begin in February, will offer lower prices and more flexibility for some travelers.
Viewed in isolation, the limited service might only reduce the average price of flights out of Savannah by a few percentage points, but there could be broader impacts.
Passengers will obviously have options to connect to other cities that JetBlue serves. Those flights could be cheaper and more convenient than some of the current options.
Perhaps JetBlue’s presence will force carriers to reduce rates not only for New York flights but also to and from other destinations that JetBlue serves.
Perhaps another discount carrier will consider moving into the Savannah market to stem JetBlue’s growing reach.
Increased passenger counts at the airport could create momentum that eventually leads to more passengers, more flights and lower costs.
Don’t expect any of this to happen overnight.
In 2012, the total number of passengers either enplaning or deplaning in Savannah was about 1.6 million. That was similar to the three previous years.
But back in 2007, the total passenger count at Savannah/Hilton Head International was more than 2 million. In 2005, the number topped 2.1 million.
The relatively sharp decline was obviously related to the deep 2007-2009 recession and the sluggish recovery since then.
The large drop in business was not really foreseeable, but it’s still ironic that new gates, concessions and parking facilities were added in 2007, just a few months before the recession hit.
We saw the same pattern in other sectors of the local economy, from warehousing to homebuilding. During the boom years, we aggressively added new supply to accommodate anticipated near-term demand, but we ended up with too much capacity.
But other airports are dealing with the same issues, right?
Not really.
Jacksonville’s total passenger count in 2012 was still off about 13 percent from 2008, but Charleston’s numbers are tracking well above pre-recession levels.
I love flying in and out of Savannah, despite the long walk from security to the most-used gates. I can typically be at the gate waiting to board, Frappuccino in hand, within 40 minutes of leaving my house in Thomas Square.
Easy, yes. Cheap, no.
City Talk appears every Sunday and Tuesday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 E. 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.