Southern Skyways has postponed launching direct flights to Charleston, W.Va., and Cincinnati until May 25 and dropped its third destination, Allentown, Pa. All the nonstop flights had planned to take off March 2.

Lagging ticket sales and high airport fees have caused major cutbacks by the carrier aiming to get service off the ground in Myrtle Beach.

• Ticketholders will automatically receive refunds, said Cary Evans of Southern Skyways.

• E-mail notices were being sent to passengers Friday, with refunds expected to be sent Monday.

The later start could be a hit for golf promoters, who were hoping the extra flights would shuttle more players here for the spring golf season that kicks off next month. Golf Holiday has spent about $30,000 on ads in the Charleston area that mention the flights starting in March.

Evans blamed high fees that airlines pay at Myrtle Beach International Airport with contributing to the carrier’s cutbacks.

• Southern Skyways didn’t have to pay fees in Allentown or Charleston but recently received a six-figure bill covering counter space and common areas for two months in Myrtle Beach.

• “Right away we have an unexpected $106,000 deposit we have to make to Myrtle Beach International when it’s zero in Allentown and zero in Charleston,” Evans said. “You can see the difference in who wants air service.”

• Airport officials have said the fees airlines pay in Myrtle Beach aren’t out of line.

Evans expects demand to pick up once the summer travel season kicks in. He’s confident Southern Skyways can make it work.

• “We certainly believe in Myrtle Beach,” Evans said. “We know Myrtle Beach - as you know it has always historically been summer for Myrtle Beach. The challenge is to fill in around the seasonal aspect of it.”

• Southern Skyways is a charter service based in Atlanta.

Source: Dawn Bryant, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC