Including representatives
from every major casino, group seeks to open up new
markets and provide broadened air service
As airports throughout the United States scale back airline service and
airport expansion, the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) has formed
a new coalition to expand air service and attract new airline carriers to its Atlantic City International Airport
(ACY). SJTA, which owns and operates the airport, is seeking to open up
new markets to support Atlantic City
as a destination and to provide broadened air service through ACY. The
coalition includes representatives from every major casino as well as elected
officials, New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and Atlantic
City Convention & Visitors Authority.
Currently,
Spirit Airlines is the sole airline carrier providing service at ACY to limited
destinations in Florida, South
Carolina and parts of the Caribbean with connecting service to Latin America. ACY has enjoyed steady annual
increases in passenger counts, with 1.2 million passengers in 2007.
Spirit’s success at ACY combined with the airport’s expansion potential and
easy access to Atlantic City from points north/south and east/west in New
Jersey and the Philadelphia market makes it a prime target for new airlines and
expanded service.
“Leaders
across all industries in the Atlantic City and the South Jersey region
recognize the convenient time and cost saving advantages of this airport as
well as the importance it plays in taking Atlantic City to the next level,”
said Bart R. Mueller, SJTA Executive Director. “Today’s environment in Atlantic City and the
region has created the opportunity for new airlines to be financially
successful, and this coalition has come together in a cohesive effort to create
incentives as the final tipping point to expand existing service and draw new
carriers and flight frequencies to ACY.”
According
to Mueller, ACY has tremendous capacity for growth and development as the
airport site is so large that it can contain all of Philadelphia International
and Newark Liberty International Airports and 60 percent of LaGuardia
Airport. Plans include an $18 million terminal expansion, a $10
million apron expansion, a hotel and conference center, and freight and cargo
development.
The SJTA has already begun to
ready the facilities for expanded service and more passengers.
A
state-of-the-art baggage screening facility was recently completed as part of a
$7.1 million airport renovation and improvement program, which will also result
in upgrades to the terminal building. A $24.5 million, six-story,
1,370-space parking garage to expand parking capacity opened this summer just
steps from the terminal building. The garage also accommodates rental cars and
rental car offices, freeing up areas in the terminal for additional leased
space.
“Atlantic City’s revenues have been challenged as many
visitors within the drive market are being pulled away by slot parlors and
racinos in New York, Pennsylvania,
and Delaware.
Expanding service at ACY will make Atlantic City’s casinos, shops and
restaurants convenient to a previously untapped market of visitors,” said
Maureen Adams, Vice President of National Casino Marketing & Sales for
Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.
At the same
time, ACY’s radius of potential passengers has expanded. According to an
internal study conducted by the SJTA, travelers from outside of the southern
New Jersey region have discovered ACY offers the shortest wait time among the
region’s airports, low-cost parking and easy baggage retrieval, demonstrating
the potential of ACY as the airline of choice in New Jersey and throughout the
region.
The
coalition is specifically targeting new markets in Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and
cities east of the Mississippi with incentives that include waiving airport
fees, marketing resources in new markets and promotion to convention and
meeting planners.
Atlantic City has grown
into a major east coast destination. In addition to its historic
Boardwalk and miles of beaches, the city now has over 23,000 hotel rooms,
luxury casino hotels, star-studded entertainment, upscale dining including
celebrity chefs and high-end restaurant chains, lavish spas and resort-like
offerings and an array of shopping from designer stores at The Pier at Caesars
to the outlets at The Walk.
“We can’t be a world-class destination if the world can’t
get to us,” says Assemblyman John Burzichelli, chairman of the state’s Tourism
and Gaming Commission and a member of the coalition.
In addition
the rooms, entertainment, dining and shopping, Atlantic
City is ripe to attract conventions and meetings with the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall.
“Atlantic City’s assets
make the city one of the most attractive destinations for conventions and
meetings,” said Jeff Vasser, President of the Atlantic City Convention &
Visitors Authority. “Everything else
is in place: hotel rooms, a great convention center, restaurants, shows.
Expanded
air services at ACY presents the final hurdle for Atlantic City to realize its potential as a
sought-after convention site competitive with any in the nation.”
Member
organizations of the coalition include: South Jersey Transportation Authority,
New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Atlantic City Convention
& Visitors Authority, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Trump Entertainment
Resorts, Inc., Trump Marina, The Borgata, Hilton Atlantic City, Resorts Casino
Hotel, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel Entertainment, The Cordish Company Gaming
Operations, The Pier, The Chelsea, Margaritaville, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic
City, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., and elected government officials.
Coalition Formed to Attract Business to A.C. Airport
December 10, 2008
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