SRQ receives U.S. Grant
Just a few days after losing its second-largest airline, AirTran Airways, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport has acquired a $500,000 federal grant, which will be applied to attracting a new airline. With its own funds and money from local tourism agencies, airport executives expect to have at least $1 million to entice an airline or airlines to add routes.
The airport plans to use the federal Small Community Air Service Development grant to provide incentives for new westbound service, which it lost in 2008 when Continental Airlines stopped flying to Houston. The grant is contingent on Sarasota-Bradenton obtaining an airline to fly west. The money would guarantee revenue to an airline that would likely lose money when first starting service.
It is time for the County boards of commissioners to to replace the entire airport board with new dynamic energetic long range thinking people. See Sarasota Herald July 3, 2012 business page. “Southwest Airlines at the new Northwest Florida Beaches International has seen its market share grow steadily from 9% in 2009 to 25% in 2012. Maybe it would be an improvement to have an elected board rather than an appointed board. Do market analysis of Sarasota and Bradenton flying in and out of Tampa