BAKERSFIELD, CA- Meadows Field Airport is looking for new opportunities in the new year. Less than half of local travelers are using the facility, presenting some challenges.
With two carriers, 11 flights and limited destinations, airport director Richard Strickland says there is room to grow. How that growth will unfold is still unclear.
Strickland said, "Whether you talk about a Minneapolis, or a Dallas, or a Salt Lake City, a Seattle, a Portland, they all have varying opportunities for Meadows Field and for Kern County passengers."
Strickland says he's working with multiple international and domestic carriers to add more commercial flights.
"The turn around in terms of air service could occur within the next twelve months. We should see something break free and give us an opportunity to get something new," said Strickland.
Strickland says upgrading planes, increasing passenger loads and shifting flight schedules are also possibilities, but there are some obstacles.
"In working with the different airlines that are out there, you're vying for that opportunity for that next airplane that they might take possession of, against 300 other commercial service airports in the U.S," said Strickland.
Tough competition aside, Strickland admits locals simply aren't using meadows field as much as he'd like.
Strickland said, "Right now we've still got a leakage rate of about 51%. So we've only got 49% actually using Meadows Field for their choice in flying."
There are currently flights to Phoenix, Houston, Denver, LA and San Francisco. While Strickland says another hub is in the works, the possibility of bringing back an international flight is still years out.
"To get international service back here at Meadows Field is going to take longer in time. The utilization of the international terminal, I don't know that that will revitalize itself," said Strickland.
Strickland says he hopes to increase the number of passengers using the airport through advertising and community outreach.
They just launched a new website this week http://www.MeadowsField.com
With two carriers, 11 flights and limited destinations, airport director Richard Strickland says there is room to grow. How that growth will unfold is still unclear.
Strickland said, "Whether you talk about a Minneapolis, or a Dallas, or a Salt Lake City, a Seattle, a Portland, they all have varying opportunities for Meadows Field and for Kern County passengers."
Strickland says he's working with multiple international and domestic carriers to add more commercial flights.
"The turn around in terms of air service could occur within the next twelve months. We should see something break free and give us an opportunity to get something new," said Strickland.
Strickland says upgrading planes, increasing passenger loads and shifting flight schedules are also possibilities, but there are some obstacles.
"In working with the different airlines that are out there, you're vying for that opportunity for that next airplane that they might take possession of, against 300 other commercial service airports in the U.S," said Strickland.
Tough competition aside, Strickland admits locals simply aren't using meadows field as much as he'd like.
Strickland said, "Right now we've still got a leakage rate of about 51%. So we've only got 49% actually using Meadows Field for their choice in flying."
There are currently flights to Phoenix, Houston, Denver, LA and San Francisco. While Strickland says another hub is in the works, the possibility of bringing back an international flight is still years out.
"To get international service back here at Meadows Field is going to take longer in time. The utilization of the international terminal, I don't know that that will revitalize itself," said Strickland.
Strickland says he hopes to increase the number of passengers using the airport through advertising and community outreach.
They just launched a new website this week http://www.MeadowsField.com