Montgomery Airport Hosts National Conference

Several major airlines…and leaders from more than 40 airports were in town this week.

 

The three-day conference wrapped up today but the new connections could mean big business for Montgomery in the future.

Just one year ago, the Montgomery Regional Airport was suffering from a serious drop in travelers. 

 

About 20,000 fewer people were coming through the gates to fly.

But things are turning around.

 

“We’ve been working very hard for that. We’re coming off of four months of double digit growth. At the same time, we attribute this growth to the chamber and the partnership between the montgomery airport authority and the chamber of commerce,” said Chip Gentry with Montgomery Regional Airport.

 

This conference brings together small airports to meet face to face with airlines from across the country.

 

This is the first time Montgomery has hosted something like this.

 

Sixel Consulting Group, who also handles the airport’s marketing, says choosing the capital city was an easy choice.

 

“We thought it would be a great venue to bring our clients into the community and showcase what we saw when we came here. A great community, a thriving community, an economically strong and divergent community,” said Mark Sixel, president of the company.

 

Smaller airports don’t always have the luxury of meeting with companies like American Airlines and JetBlue. 

 

Chip Gentry says this could help Montgomery continue to be competitive, especially since the airfare prices line up with Atlanta, one of the biggest competitors.

 

“Our goal is to pick up more direct flights in the future in where Montgomery’s top destinations are. That’s what we want to do. We want to partner with airlines in those focused cities,” said Gentry.