Airport Busy With Improvements, Pursues Passenger Service

Airport Executive Director Steve Borden stands on the tarmac outside of the Moore County Airport. Photo by Hannah Sharpe.

As of Sunday, January 27, 2013

BY TED M. NATT JR.

Staff Writer

By Hannah Sharpe

An aerial view of the Moore County Airport

As work on extending the runways at Moore County Airport nears completion, airport officials are preparing to convert the passenger waiting area into an executive lounge while pursuing commercial service through a regional carrier.

“We’ve got a lot on the plate,” said airport Executive Director Steve Borden. “All this stuff is being done for the 2014 U.S. Opens and to make the airport safer and more comfortable for our customers.

“We think of the airport as a gateway to Pinehurst, Moore County and North Carolina.”

Initial discussions with two regional carriers began last fall after John Taws, secretary of the Moore County Airport Authority, attended an airline industry conference in Portland, Maine.

“There is some interest because the airlines want to be best-positioned when the market comes back,” Taws said. “We’re not sure where that’s going to take us at this point. There’s no immediacy here. We can’t put a clock on it yet. This is going to be a long process.”

Moore County Airport has not had commercial service since November 2007, when Delta Air Lines pulled out after providing seasonal flights for a little more than a year.

Delta received local subsidies to provide the service, a situation officials don’t want to repeat.

“There’s no denying that most carriers approach an airport with a hand out to a certain extent looking for revenue guarantees,” Taws said. “That is not palatable to us.”

A study conducted last year for the Airport Authority concluded that Moore County has a passenger market large enough to support additional air service because county residents spend about $110 million annually to fly commercially.

“However, the study alone will not be enough,” the study said. “It is likely (the airport) will have to offer some kind of risk mitigation program, including fee waivers, marketing and even ground handling, to convince another airline to launch service.”

Borden acknowledged that “the model” would have to be different.

“We’re exploring the use of smaller aircraft that can hold six to nine passengers, as well as multiple flights a day so customers have options,” he said. “That’s conceptually where we’re headed. One of the two carriers we’re talking to is very interested in coming here, but we need to continue the dialogue. We haven’t set a hard timeline for getting them here.”

Caleb Miles, president and CEO of the local Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Moore County attracts slightly more than 1 million visitors a year and about 85 percent of them drive here.

“Is there a market for commercial service? Yes,” Miles said. “People would use it. They have in the past. But it’s never going to have a substantial impact because we don’t have enough capacity here. I certainly think the airport can grown and evolve. It just needs to find its niche.”

Borden said work on the $107,000 terminal renovation will begin as soon as the Airport Authority secures a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pay for the project.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of fractional operators coming through the airport and they bring a higher-end clientele,” he said. “We want to recapture the terminal space we’re not using and make it more attractive to our customers.”

The Airport Authority has hired Village Design Group in Southern Pines to do the work.

“We have presented them with a new concept that would convert the space from a commercial feel into an executive lounge feel,” said Vicki Stone, owner of Village Design. “We want it to have a professional look, but we also want to make it more homey and cozy than it is. We want the space to have that kind of ambience.”

In addition to new carpet, tables and chairs, Village Design plans to add Wi-Fi, update the lighting, use warm tones and place the customer service desk against the backdrop of a stone wall.

“I think it will be a great look,” Stone said. “We’re really excited about it.”

Taws said the goal is to have “a fantastic facility” for passengers and their crews.

“We want to provide them with a superior experience in Moore County from the moment they put their feet on the tarmac,” he said.

A study conducted last year by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at N.C. State University found that the Moore County Airport had an economic impact of $35.24 million in 2010 and accounted for 260 jobs in the region.

“The airport is critical to our tourism industry, but it’s also critical to our government contractors and our military,” said Patrick Coughlin, president and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s very convenient for them to fly in and out of Moore County Airport rather than a commercial facility.”

Coughlin said the study underscores the airport’s importance to the local economy.

“If the airport weren’t here,” he said, “people would notice a pretty dramatic economic void in the community.”

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@thepilot.com.

More like this story

MichaelFlorence 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Somebody has to start - Lets see another $107,000.00 down the drain when it is spent. And it looks like that if the airport can attract another carrier even more money will have to be shoveled out by the taxpayers. Just a reminder that small planes were considered last time BUT weight issues were a huge problem. If a golfer is coming in by plane he or she does not want to have their bags driven down at a later time from Raleigh. Moore County has a nice airport for private and charter service, but regular passenger service is just an expensive dream chased by a few, for the rest of us it is a money nightmare that just keeps going on. And let me say if one person tries to tell me that the money from the FAA is from fees collected on tickets and it is not a tax - Just keep it to yourself. And let me go ahead and say hello to Old Pilot. He or she will be along here shortly.

jonathan_poverud 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Commercial Service Died the day the county sued Delta. The Pilot forgot to mention the outcome of that suit, but I can tell you commercial service won't be happening. No airline is going to place a bet on a long shot airport to have the owner sue them.

Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago

" “All this stuff is being done for the 2014 U.S. Opens and to make the airport safer and more comfortable for our customers."

Perhaps a surcharge for every plane that lands and isn't hangered at the Pinehurst Airport is in order and should be paid back to the taxpayers.

The conventions bureau, hotels and motels all have skin in the game all at taxpayers' expense. The naysayers continue the same old story, the taxpayers have no money in the expansion for large carrier jets like Trumps to land on a runway less than 6k feet.

The voters of this county should continue to vote for MoF and their spending spree only to be compared to Washington. The Commissioners have been leveraged by the Pinehurst Golf Power-brokers. The taxpayers only - I repeat - only advocate moved on to other considerations.

When MoF say they have not appropriated any funding for the Airport, just ask about the loan and giving away taxpayer owned property to a board with immunity to any local citizen concerns.

Wonder who suggested a bill to allow the Airport Authority to take control of taxpayer property? Who or whom encouraged the legislation to allow this travesty to occur in the first place?

TooHot 3 months, 3 weeks ago

The Delta "service" a few years back was a cluster.

Matt_Woodruff 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Michael Florence, somebody is going to get those grants, might as well be us! The FAA calls it a tax, don't know what your point is.

MichaelFlorence 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Matt Some people in the past have tried to portray the grants from the FAA as not a tax. I am surprised that they have not commented yet. The $107,000.00 in grants is nothing but a place to start. This airport is no different than the Murtha airport in Penn. that did nothing but soak up taxpayer money and just flush it. I no this will sound small, but if this country ever wants to get back on its feet then money sucking operations like our airport will have to go it on their own. Many other things have to change, but it has to start somewhere. Why not here?

Toyboy52 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Moore County commercial air service 1 and a quarter hours by freeway from RDU International Airport is silly. However, regular bus service to either RDU or FAY is something that is both practical and inexpensive. If our county wants to allow the airport to serve the public, then it should set up regular airport transit,

It is even possible for the FAY airport authority or an airline to subsidize the service I'n orderto direct Moore County passenger traffic to their facility.

Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago

"somebody is going to get those grants"

That is one hilarious statement to say the least. This isn't RDU or Charlotte, Wilmington or a destination for travelers connecting to other flights.

It's all about the 2014 Open perpetuated by the Hotel and Conventions Bureau to allow enough runway for high rollers who will spend less money than those commuting from RDU or Fayetteville.

The point is, the MoF have given away property paid for by Moore County taxpayers. The legislation for the give-a-way should be resended. Doubtful with Jamie Boles and Jerry Tillman representing MooCo with the current Republican base who opposes entitlements except when those entitlements are for those who own aircraft as well as those with the deep pockets in the golfing mecca of Pinehurst.

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Best wishes to all of the above - but - the high rollers don't care about the 10-20 people who post here. Besides, it if gets to be more than 20 someone will call the Pilot and "suggest" that the negative comments aren't good for business and commenting will be turned off or the story will vanish.

CSmithson 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I know the economics of the Delta deal weren't good and the one-flight-a-day option left some to be desired, but I did fly out of SOP a couple of times and found it overall to be a good thing for the passenger.

While RDU is 1:15 away, that's not the whole difference. When you get there, you have to park. Even if you park next to the terminal, you are looking at 15 minutes to find a spot and get to the terminal. since they usually recommend getting there an hour early, you are looking at leaving home 2.5 hours before your flight is schedule to depart. Oh, and if you do park at the deck next to the terminal, that will cost you $12/day. Other lots are cheaper but they take more time on both ends. don't forget what it cost you to drive the 140 mile round trip.

At SOP, you were 5 minutes from your house, the parking was free, and with only one gate and one flight, there was no way you would get stuck in a long security line and miss your flight. When arriving home at SOP, you could be back at home within the time most people would still be waiting for their bags at RDU. Obviously the financial side didn't work and Delta would cancel the flight at the drop of a hat, but it was a nice service while it lasted.

CaddieMaster 3 months, 3 weeks ago

MichaelFlorence/Toda- The argument to not spend money on our local airport is ludicrous. If you want to save money that way, let's stop spending money on streets around the area that you and I don't use. Let's stop spending money on making the area look better - heck, lot's of people around here don't appreciate that either. I think we could use a few less fire trucks and police cruisers - I don't need them either.

Obviously, my point is that Moore County airport is a critical part of the infrastructure of this area - you take it away, and you are on your way to destroying the fragile economy you have here, based heavily on golf and tourism. I know budgets are tight, but by that reasoning, you only build roads and bridges when times are good, and let everything go to hell when in a recession - which is probably exactly opposite of what you should really do.

Frankly, I think we have one of the best airports in the country, and it is well maintained and managed. Sorry you don't use it directly, but I think it's indirectly helping create the quality of life around here you want.

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

CaddieMaster: What a weak analogy. The police cruisers protect "all" of the people - not just the "Haves".

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Hey Smithson - You shouldn't complain about your "hard day at the office" when flying out of RDU - other people don't have jobs.

Toyboy52 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Chris:

What about bus service frrom SOP to RDU?

Matt_Woodruff 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Toda, what your missing is the economic impact of private aviation. Someone has to build these expensive machines, someone has to fly them, someone has to maintain them. We are not talking minimum wage jobs either. Airplanes are taxed just like houses. Shouldn't the owners be entitled to something in return just like a homeowner? The return on investment to society is huge! Your pointless rants are lacking in any critical thinking.

JAP 3 months, 3 weeks ago

CaddieMaster,

I have a hard time believing that the Moore County Airport is as crucial to the local economy as you make it out to be.

JAP

doughnuts 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Make the airport into a park like Meigs Field in Chicago.

CSmithson 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Alldat The delta service ended in 2007 when pretty much everyone around here still had jobs. In fact, back then some employers decided not to come here because they couldn't recruit to their satisfaction with such a low unemployment rate. How times have changed...

Bob/toy boy,

Not sure if bus service works based on time/money/schedule with all the flights out of rdu but it is worth looking at. Just saying that there were good things (purely from a consumer perspective at least) about the delta deal.

AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago

As someone who plays golf and works at the Pinehurst CC numerous high end customers use the airport for their visits to Pinehurst and SP.

greatbrit 3 months, 3 weeks ago

AFCHIEF "numerous high end customers use the airport for their visits to Pinehurst and SP."

I wonder how many is "numerous" compared to the rest of us that do not have such an opportunity?

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

CSmithson - I've been here long enough to know that not everyone had a job in 2007. Just drive by the furniture factory in West End. It must be nice to be in your own comfy little world wearing rose colored glasses.

AFChief - Duh - rich guys with jets - tell us something we don't know.

Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I have friends that fly down from Northern Virginia once or twice a year to play golf in a single engine Cessna. The rent a car, rent a house, pay greens fees, buy stuff & eat out at local eateries. They are hardly rich as most of their disposable income go into the plane & golf. It's nice & convenient to have the airport here.

teufelhunden 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I do a great deal of flying-many flights are just short hops. Would love to fly out of Moore County because I make sooo many trips to Charlotte and Raleigh already. Just my opinion folks...

JAP 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Courseaire,

Planes and golf. Sounds like the lifestyle of the rich to me..........

JAP

Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago

JAP - My friends & I are hardly rich; we just choose where we'll spend our hard earned money. Oh, there are also our horses where we turn greenbacks into horse manure, though we do save on lawn maintenance.

JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Courseaire, what with the Pinehurst CC golf, the private planes and the horse farms, I agree with you, you and your friends are "hardly rich", you're "easily rich".

MichaelFlorence 3 months, 3 weeks ago

People People People

Let us stay focused here. This article deals with another $107,000.00 that is being poured into a terminal renovation for an "executive lounge feel". How many people think that if you have a private plane that someone is going to get off that plane and then sit in the terminal enjoying this new $107.000.00 lounge. Really this in a nutshell is what is wrong with our country. We spend too much money on stupid little pet projects that in the end will do nothing good except to waste money that was collected by the tax man. Every item in our federal budget needs to be combed through and useless projects like this are the first things that need to go.

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Without any organization all of this ranting and complaining is going nowhere.

PS Don't take anything Courseaire says seriously.

Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Alladat1 is the smartest, most straight-forward and talented commenter on the Pilot I know.

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Well - he might be right once in a while.

alladat1 3 months, 3 weeks ago

M. Florence - you couldn't even fix the SLLA budget and now you want to take on the Feds?

Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Caddymaster ~ "The argument to not spend money on our local airport is ludicrous."

Only through your rose colored glasses ... You Sir should be more antithetical after researching cost to the taxpayers for the benefit of an independent board who answers to no one by law.

"If you want to save money that way, let's stop spending money on streets around the area that you and I don't use."

Now that is a ludicrous statement ... the roads are paid for through the 57.5 cent gas tax - the highest on the East Coast.

"Let's stop spending money on making the area look better - heck, lot's of people around here don't appreciate that either."

Are you taking the liberty of speaking for everyone who pays the bills through their tax dollars?

"Obviously, my point is that Moore County airport is a critical part of the infrastructure of this area - you take it away, and you are on your way to destroying the fragile economy you have here, based heavily on golf and tourism."

Then let those who benefit the most from tourist dollars pay to "pretty up" the area for the high rollers who come every four or five years. Use our tax money for an increase in teacher salaries!

" you only build roads and bridges when times are good,"

What bridges and roads are you referring to? A circle at the airport doesn't qualify as a community initiative for the masses when the cross roads at Hwy 22 and Airport Road have served the county well ~ since the traffic circle was constructed. If it "aint" broken, why fix it? Looks good for the fly-ins.

"Sorry you don't use it directly, but I think it's indirectly helping create the quality of life around here you want."

Sir I totally disagree with you ... ! I along with so many Moore-countyans have enjoyed a very good way of life until the influx during the Diamond Head Express - 3 days and 2 nights. So you can take your rose colored glasses and your horn to the County Board of Commissioners who enjoy spending other peoples money for special interests pet projects.

Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Matt_Woodruff 23 hours, 54 minutes ago Toda, what your missing is the economic impact of private aviation.

And what is that ... higher paying positions for political pansies at the airport?

"Someone has to build these expensive machines,"

So where is the manufacturing facility here in Poorer County?

"someone has to fly them",

A very generous job market for so many here in Poorer County - right?

"someone has to maintain them"

I understand someone has to add fuel to get them off the ground. How many people who work at the airport in blue collar positions earn more than $15.00 an hour? Look up the million dollar line item of employee salaries. Last time I ask for a disclosure statement on expenses, -0- response.

"Airplanes are taxed just like houses. Shouldn't the owners be entitled to something in return just like a homeowner?"

They have an airport that the taxpayers of Poorer County built, land that the taxpayers paid for and was "given" to the Authority by the Commissioners. How many are registered here in Poorer County as opposed to another state of residence, since most fly home after a brief stay here.

"The return on investment to society is huge! "

Society is the operative word here Jim Bob ... can you or Patrick Corso identify companies with manufacturing capabilities relocated to Poorer County as opposed to Lee County? You are blowing smoke up the wrong rectum pal ~ You and Caddymaster should hang out with MoF more often so they will continue funneling taxpayers dollars to a lame duck enterprise as opposed to school teacher salaries.

Point out what you consider a rant as opposed to facts! Jim Bob

Comments No Longer Accepted

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
28	29	30	1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31	1

Airport Busy With Improvements, Pursues Passenger Service

More like this story

Comments

May events