I don’t know how common the circumstances are in most medium-sized metropolitan areas with two airports boasting the “international” status within 20 miles of each other. In our case, Tampa International Airport (TPA) and St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport (PIE) have this distinction.
Tampa International has often earn accolades for ease of use, and high volume (pdf: nearly 19 million passengers made their way through TIA last year). The consistent and steady growth (without much of a hit from the 9-11 airline fallout) demands that TIA routinely accelerate their growth plans. In fact, TIA is planning a second terminal to be built north of the current main terminal (and it’s four existing airsides) ten years ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, (pdf) St. Pete/Clearwater struggles to stay afloat. Several low fare carriers fly through PIE, not Southwest, Jet Blue, Frontier, Spirit et al. But Allegiant, Sun Country, USA 3000 and other carriers you may never have heard of.
As you know, there are keen differences between the two, and although they are only a few miles apart, geography may be the most striking. Lest you forget, TIA is in Hillsborough and PIE in Pinellas. Both counties cater to different business needs, have differing tourist destinations, and tend to not get along . Tampa International isn’t too far from Pinellas County, the Gateway business District and local beaches but St. Pete/Clearwater is certainly closer. It’s a more appealing (location wise) departure location for South and Central Pinellas residents as well as those who would like a quieter launching point for their trips.
So what’s the fuss? Two airprts close together with the big airlines having a preference for one over the other. Why should Tampa International even acknowledge the smaller, more antiquated airport? Because imagine what they could do together.
If St. Pete/Clearwater were used as an extension of Tampa International, it would provide an alternative nearby site that can potentially ease crowding and congestion at Tampa International, allowing that airport to delay expansion.
This is not a new idea, of course. Former state senator Jim Sebesta already tried to pass off a joint-governance idea that would “share the wealth” between TIA and St. Pete-Clearwater. The problem with Sebesta’s idea was that he suggested more bureaucracy by way of a Pinellas Aviation Authority as well as a REGIONAL aviation authority overseeing both counties.
And it’s not as if Pinellas and Hillsborough haven’t discussed this in the past. But that idea was dead on arrival, thanks to your typical Tampa Bay government infighting.
Is it worth it for an airliner operating out of Tampa International to also offer service from St. Pete-Clearwater? Is there enough of a market — or enough of a need, and enough of a potential savings on costs — for the major airlines to offer even one single flight a day out of St.Pete-Clearwater to a hub elsewhere in the US? For market dominance and securing a larger percentage of air traffic from and to Tampa Bay, the answer would be yes.
And would it pay to coordinate Tampa International and St. Pete-Clearwater? Let’s put it this way: people keep moving here in droves. The need is certainly there.
One thing that could help make this a realistic idea is some sort of mass transit shuttle option between the two airports. (Hmmm. I wonder if anyone has given thought to a regional transit body…)
tampabaymuse
2 years ago
Go visit the St. Pete Clearwater airport. It is a ghost town. the only thing keeping them open is that UPS flies into there. We dont need it.
What we do need is more parking and mass transit into and out of TIA. As far as I know Hart does not even supply service to TIA, and parking is maxed at TIA.
John
2 years ago
Muse, no offense, but did you read the entire post? I brought up the limited traffic, I also brought up other issues.
Yeah, nobody flies to PIE — and yet it’s there. TIA only has so much room to expand and Tampa Bay’s needs are growing. Do the math.
Rick
2 years ago
I sed to love flying out of PIE to LA, they had a non-stop flight(cant remember the airline), $5 long term parking that was walking distance to the terminal..flying into and out of PIE reminded me of flying to s mall airport on some remote island..ticket counters were outside at one time, parking was ample and convenient.
ski
2 years ago
in the dc area there is one governing body (mwaa) for two of the three major airports (dulles and reagan). although reagan is essentially unable to expand while dulles is expanding to become one of the largest airports in the country (with one more runway planned), so there isn’t much competition between the two airports.
Cricket
2 years ago
Allegiant Air is flying out of PIE and it is growing. St.Pete/Clw Airport will have all the smaller lines that want to provide service to our not so metro area. USA3000 and Allegiant have a few things in common, lower fares, and set schedules. Currently, if you want to take a weekend trip to the Mountains in Tennessee, it’s pretty expensive. Usually more cost effective to drive. However, PIE servers the lower budget flights with specific non flexible times.
PIE operates continiously, and if you have ever spent time in the airport, you will note many private jets land there. I believe John Travolta’s big ass jet visits frequently. Easy in, easy out, and no big drama.
Don’t count PIE as antiquated.
WP
2 years ago
With Very Light Jets(VLJ) coming online I think we might see a shifting in hub/spoke model for at least business travel, where delays and destinations are much less flexible. If so airports like KPIE could certainly see increases in traffic from small jets operating like air taxis. The costs of redundant ground personnel and being so close to a primary airport like KTPA make it unlikely a carrier would find it cost effective to serve both airports. If we ever see a renaissance of the glamor days of air travel things like convenience and service might become more important in decisions, but as long as ticket price is the driving force for we customers, we can probably expect things to only become less convenient for the individual.
J
2 years ago
I love people who have no clue that write about a topic and try to sound like they hav a clue! TIA and PIE just co-hosted the largest airline and airport meeting in the world at the Tradewinds Resort last month. The airports both pitch airlines to fill the empty spots. Currently both are co-operating in obtaining more international service with PIE taking the lead for Germany. Allegiant flies to 14 cities and is adding more. Every major metro area has more than one airport. Close it? PIE is a sleeping beauty. It is ready to host more airlines and it will.