Having affordable, accessible air service isn’t just important for Wichita-area businesses; it’s also key to the region’s tourism efforts. It is difficult to land large conventions if our airfares are high and our service is poor. “It’s a reason not to come here,” John Rolfe, president and CEO of the Greater Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Eagle’s editorial board. That’s why the bureau wisely is part of the legislative push to get state financial support for Mid-Continent Airport. “All of Kansas benefits,” 2005 board chairman Ken Lerman said at the bureau’s annual meeting Thursday. “Therefore, all of Kansas, including northeast Kansas, must now join Wichita in supporting quality air service and lower airfares in Wichita and south-central Kansas.” He’s right.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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13 Comments
More subsidies on the horizon? The city gives millions to Airtran for low fares, and yet how often is Airtran listed in the Sunday paper for lowest fares anywhere? Almost never.
What is wrong with this picture?
I believe Mid-Continent will get its support. Once the new airport is built and we can get more passenger traffic through it, we can see a real possiblity of SouthWest coming in.
Good point, Joe. While I am not a fan of either Southwest or Airtran, at least SW has a much better safety record than Airtran, previously known as “Value Jet”…
I was wondering why we support an airline that only flies east? This is really no subside unless you are flying in that direction. It would seem to me that an airline flying in all directions out of wichita would be the one to subsudize if you want all of Kansas to help with this. This would be the only way to stop people from driving to Kansas City or Oklahoma City for low fares. Two esamples with my family recently. LA to Wichita cheaper fro KC or Oklahoma City by $600. Flight to Louisville $300 cheaper from Kansas City. There just simply is no comparsion.
If we must socialize air transportation why not establish a shuttle to KCI? Then one could just fly to wherever one wants. This is what was recommended way back when this all started, using Air Midwest which was located here at the time. There is nothing wrong with flying a small plane for a short distance.
Mid Continent is a gigantic welfare momma. Make her earn her own way and kick her off the public teat.
Mid Continent would make a great place for the arena.. look at all the parking available!
I just searched Orbitz for flights to/from San Diego to Wichita or Kansas City, to KS on Jan 19 and return on Jan 26. Cheapest quoted to/from ICT is $875 per person or to/from MCI is $216 per person. Thus. for my wife and me to visit her hospitalized 96 year-old Mother over that time would cost $1,318 via Wichita.
DDF
Todd, amen. This subsidizing of AirTran stinks of a conflict of interest.
Joe Williams, indeed. Southwest’s entrance into the Wichita market would be the only thing that could possibly redeem the idiotic subsidies for Airtran. However, expect Airtran to fight it like hell. And although I wasn’t in Wichita when the deal was made, one would think that Airtran must have insisted on some kind of an exclusivity clause to keep Southwest out of the market.
I thought there was a “Jim Wright” law that did not allow southwest to fly direct to certain states from Love Field in Dallas. That is why they can go to KCI in Missouri but not ICT in Kansas. I know there was an effort to change that law. Is it still in effect? Is that why southwest doesnt fly into Wichita?
ksfarmgrrl. The Jim Wright Amendment doesn’t allow SouthWest to fly from Dallas to any surrounding state including Kansas and Missouri. But it does not limit Southwest from flying between other cities. Like KC to LA for instance. They cannot fly from Dallas to KC.
Inadequet law? Yes! It was to protect DFW from Love Field competition. It should be repealed.
But in 1997, I’m not for sure it it passed or not. I need to check, but there was an repeal of the Wright Amendment to exclude the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Kansas.
Yeah! The Wright Admendment is bad and has been bad for Southwest, but what do you expect from a Democrat like Jim Wright.
Joe, would this be another one of your moderate comments?
Actually, the Wright Amendment has been amended a couple of times. The original Wright allowed non-stop flights from Love Field to the rest of Texas and states that touched Texas. In 1997, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kansas were added as allowed states. In November of last year, Missouri was added. Southwest, interestingly, now has non-stop flights to Jackson MS, Birmingham AL, and in recent weeks, KC and St. Louis MO. The only state on the amended Wright not served by Southwest? Kansas. Hmmmmmmmmm.