Myrtle Beach again will have non-stop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth starting in May, a much-desired route that opens more convenient travel to the west for locals and has the potential to lure more visitors to the beach to boost tourism.
Spirit Airlines, which carries the most passengers annually at Myrtle Beach International Airport, said Wednesday that it would fly between Myrtle Beach and Dallas-Fort Worth three times a week starting May 3. The flights are set to run through the summer, though airport officials say there’s potential to extend them to 10 months a year.
The flights will run on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, leaving Myrtle Beach at 8:10 p.m. and arriving in Dallas-Fort Worth at 10:15 p.m., and leaving Dallas-Fort Worth at 3:50 p.m. and arriving in Myrtle Beach at 7:30 p.m.
“There’s just great opportunities both ways,” Myrtle Beach airport spokeswoman Lauren Morris said. “We’re delighted to have it back.”
It’s been two years since Myrtle Beach had non-stop flights to Dallas, and those only lasted seven months. American Eagle Airlines flew to Dallas in 2010, but didn’t resume the seasonal service, saying there weren’t enough travelers getting on the plane to justify the expense. American carried about 6,100 passengers out of Myrtle Beach on the Dallas flights during the seven months in 2010 they operated, according to statistics from Myrtle Beach International Airport.
Local officials blame the flights’ failure on the small, 50-seat regional jets American used, adding that it couldn’t sell all the seats because it had to account for the weight of golf clubs -- not because of a lack of demand. Spirit plans to use planes that can hold nearly three times as many passengers.
“Simply put, they had the wrong airplane,” said Mike LaPier, director of Horry County airports. “We think there is really strong potential there.”
Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson declined to comment about why the carrier decided to fly to Dallas or if it had concerns about the route being successful considering American Eagle’s experience.
“The introduction of our ultra low fares between Myrtle Beach and Dallas/Fort Worth offers travelers the ideal and affordable opportunity to take advantage of the renowned golf courses and other leisure activities both destinations have to offer,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit’s senior director of metwork planning, in a news release.
Having a non-stop route could make Myrtle Beach a new option for golfers and travelers in the Dallas area who might not have considered the Grand Strand previously because of the long drive, tourism and golf promoters said. Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, a marketing group, and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce plan to help promote the area and the new routes.
“It’s a market we haven’t tapped into, and it’s a significant golfing market,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “We wouldn’t be pitching it if we weren’t confident we could make it work.”
Locals have worked to lure service to Dallas since American Eagle pulled out and upped the incentives about six months ago, offering to waive the fees carriers pay the airport for the flights for a year or two. The incentives were designed for carriers that fly to Dallas five times a week, but Spirit will get a break on some of its fees even though it’s only flying the route three days a week, LaPier said, adding that he will work with the airline to make the route work.
“The benefits far outweigh five days versus three days,” Morris said.
Spirit is the first airline to announce new, upcoming seasonal service to Myrtle Beach. Carriers typically ramp up service in the spring as the busy summer season approaches, and the flights trickle off headed into the slower fall and winter months.
Myrtle Beach International Airport is coming off its second consecutive year for a record number of passengers and is amid a construction project to expand the terminal. The expanded airport will open in January 2013.
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