Thursday, April 26, 2018

CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER DOWNTURN IN UNITED AIRLINES RIDERSHIP AT BROWNSVILLE/SPI AIRPORT

City of Brownsville Airport Advisory Board(Photo by Jack Kocaya)


Despite a slew of departures on the advisory board and a couple new administrators on the airport staff, the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport keeps on keepin' on.

No city commissioners sit on the board.  Ed Rivera is gone.  Insurance man Chris Hughston, easily the most knowledgeable board member, left when the Confederate Air Force lost its welcome.  Longtime Airport Director Larry Brown retired, replaced by Bryant Walker. plucked from his job as security manager at the Sacramento International Airport. India native Sesha Vorrey, the interim director after Brown's departure has been terminated and, has since filed a racial discrimination suit against the city of Brownsville.

During the dispensation of the financial report, longtime board member Joe Hinojosa expressed concern about United Airlines 11% dip in ridership:  "Are they showing any concern that it's down?" he asked.

 "No concern," replied Director Walker.  

"We have a meeting scheduled with them in June to discuss marketing," continued Walker.

"Besides, American is up 12%, so it balances out," stated Walker.

Indeed.  Landings and departures in March 2018 were just 1% below 2017.

Hinojosa persisted: "Yes, but with Spring Break and Semana Santa, you'd think their numbers would be up, not down."
























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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 26, 2018 at 10:26 AM

    Jim, you missed the story: American up! Who cares about United?

    ReplyDelete
  2. BobbyWCApril 26, 2018 at 4:09 PM

    As someone who flies United all of the time I have been reporting this for some time. I will say this, I did fly United in early March because they cut their fares back to the old fairs. It had reached the point of about $500 for two month advance purchase to about $900. But it may be too late. My 5:15 a,m, flight was almost half empty, normally full because it feeds into internationa flights. My return which gets me in around 1100 - 1130 was half empty. I only had to fly SW one to knwo I will never do that again. I already have my Christmas ticket because the fair was good, and I feared United raising fares again.

    I personally think United wants to move everything to Harlingen. But they fear losing the business to American.

    When the fairs dropped all of a suddent my family coming this Sunday all rushed to book United instead of SW. We shall see what happens.

    Bobby WC

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 28, 2018 at 12:56 AM

    Better fares, service and facilities in Harlingen and McAllen . As usual, brownsville has nothing to offer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 8, 2018 at 10:34 PM

    Bobby WC. Nobody comments on your blog so you have to comment on Jim's to get attention?? Get a life you loser. PS nobody is interested in you comments.

    ReplyDelete

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