Low Passenger Numbers Put Flights at Risk
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MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. – Empty seats at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport could mean problems for future flyers. If the number of passengers does not increase, airport officials said there is a chance the airport would not have any commercial flights coming in and out of Jackson. SeaPort Airlines commercial flights are essential for flyers like Judy Akin, who flies from Athens, Ga. to Jackson to visit family. “I would not be able to come watch my grandson (TCA quarterback, Kyle Akin) play football on Friday nights if it weren’t for Seaport Airlines,” said Akin. “It would be very difficult for me.” The airport is able to subsidize commercial flights through Essential Air Service, a federal program which is contracted through January 2014. In order to keep the program, the airline is required to average 10 passenger departures per day, which would be a significant increase from the 5.6 per day averaged in 2012. So far this year, SeaPort is averaging 6.9 daily departures. “We still need additional passengers to bring the count up to 10. We do stand at risk for losing our service if we do not have the 10 passengers a day,” said Cindy Melton, McKellar-Sipes deputy director. If the EAS program were to stop and SeaPort Airlines left Jackson, flyers like Akin would be left scrambling, paying higher prices for longer trips. “Just have to drive or get a ride or take a bus or something,” said Akin. “We have to go to Memphis or Nashville, so it’s very inconvenient and I would just be devastated.” Even if the averages do not hit their mark, McKellar-Sipes is not guaranteed to lose the EAS program. Airport officials said they could still be offered a waiver to keep the program as long as the passenger departure numbers continue to show steady improvement.
