Michael Carroll, Russell Mills and Will Burns (left to right) studied steps communities can take to retain regional airports.
BGSU TEAM PINPOINTS STEPS TO SAVE REGIONAL AIRPORTS
When it comes to attracting and retaining airline service to a community, offering incentives to carriers is not enough, a study by BGSU researchers has found. A strong, united community commitment is necessary to not only entice carriers but to create sustainable service. And even then, regional airports are at the mercy of the economy and the airlines' overall plans.
The report and recommendations generated by the study team is posted on the Transportation Research Board website as a resource for regional airports. These airports play an important role in the economic health of communities in terms of attracting and keeping business as well as jobs and ancillary services. But they have been hard hit in this era of increasing airline consolidation and two recent recessions that have decreased the overall demand for air travel.
"It's kind of a 'chicken and egg' situation," said BGSU team leader Dr. Russell Mills, a political science faculty member specializing in public administration. "Airports are important to communities' economic health, but airlines are attracted to communities that show economic growth and market demand."
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