AirTran Airways departs Myrtle Beach

AirTran Airways will not return to Myrtle Beach come spring, taking away a vital, low-cost link to Atlanta.

• The airline, which ended its seasonal service Nov. 6, couldn’t draw enough passengers, especially higher-paying business travelers, AirTran spokeswoman Judy Graham-Weaver said.

Fliers from Myrtle Beach liked the AirTran service because the airline has a hub in Atlanta, allowing travelers to pick up connecting flights to about 50 destinations, including Tampa, Fla.; New York; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; and Washington, D.C.

• The fares also were low, leaving some speculating that AirTran’s departure could cause prices to rise.

Already, Delta is stepping up to fill the void. The airline announced this week that it will use bigger planes to fly the Myrtle Beach-Atlanta route starting this summer, offering more seats.

• Myrtle Beach’s seasonal nature makes it tricky for airlines. Most pull out or cut back in the winter and return along with the tourists in the spring.

Myrtle Beach Direct plans to fly to Pittsburgh, Newark, N.J., and Niagara Falls, N.Y., while Southern Skyways will fly to Charleston, W.Va., Allentown, Pa., and Cincinnati.

• “We believe the recent new service announcements by low-cost operators Myrtle Beach Direct Air and Southern Skyways who, combined, will provide nonstop service to six markets, will more than offset any affect from AirTran’s current decisions,” Bourcier said in an e-mail.

This year traffic is down at the airport, which officials have blamed on having fewer seats to fill. Through November, the number of passengers leaving the beach is off last year’s numbers by 8.8 percent, while incoming traffic is down 9.49 percent, according to Horry County statistics.

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