TIA Seeks To Add Consultant For Enhancing Service

By Ted Jackovics, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

May 4–Tampa International Airport will seek an independent marketing and air service development consultant to focus on enhancing domestic and international flights, airport Director Louis Miller said Thursday.

Miller told the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority that he wants to create the position in next year’s budget. George Elbe, the airport’s director of air service development, will retire this month, but how or if his staff position might be filled is unresolved, Miller said.

The airport this year created a nine-member international air service steering committee, including members from area visitors’ bureaus.

The marketing plan includes the creation of a business advisory committee of international business travelers from the Tampa Bay area.

The short-term market focus includes:

–Adding Frankfurt, Germany, service and expanding London flights to daily schedules.

–Gaining nonstop San Francisco service, to provide better connections with Asia.

–Recruiting service to San Jose, Costa Rica, for connections to Latin America.

–Re-establishing Nassau service.

Tampa International has battled to recruit airlines to provide direct international flights in the face of the airline industry’s preference to schedule those flights from hubs such as Miami and Atlanta. They rely on feeder flights from large nonhub airports such as Tampa and smaller destinations.

“We hope people are willing to share with our committee their travel needs,” said committee member Jason Busto, chief operating officer of Busto Plumbing Service and an advocate for direct flights from Tampa to Latin America.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com

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