Area Golf News

Golf Holiday Partners with Horry County and Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce on New Air Service Development Program

August 12, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives from Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today the partnership between Golf Holiday, Horry County and the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce in a new air service development program for the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR). The new program, which will begin September 1, 2008, will benefit all current airlines servicing Myrtle Beach, encourage air service to new markets and grow the international travel markets.

At Tuesday night’s Horry County Council meeting, Chairman Liz Gilland announced that the landing fees at MYR will be reduced from $1.97 to $.50 per 1,000 lbs landing weight, which will benefit all airlines currently servicing Myrtle Beach at an estimated cost savings to the airlines of $1.2 million. “It is extremely important that we let Myrtle Beach Direct Air, Spirit Airlines, US Airways and others know that we appreciate and support their business and that they are an important part of our community,” stated Gilland.

In an effort to overcome the challenges of the seasonality of the traffic at MYR and encourage stronger year-round service, MYR will also waive aircraft landing fees for all regularly scheduled passenger aircraft operations for the months of December 2008, January 2009, and February 2009.  The estimated cost savings to the airlines is $400,000. This will be the second year of the seasonal landing fee waiver from MYR.

“The Myrtle Beach airport is a gateway for the development of new markets and the county’s continued participation in helping to stimulate air service is critical to this area’s growth,” said Bill Golden president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Myrtle Beach golf market is very well branded but we need to provide additional air access to satisfy that demand.”

The county has also developed two new incentive plans for the airlines. Incentive Plan A is a new incentive plan for newly scheduled non-stop, round trip service between MYR and any airport where MYR is not currently served. In order to reduce an airline’s risk while developing new service to MYR, the airport will offer air carriers the option of being invoiced at a rate of $2.00 per available seat, in lieu-of being invoiced based on the rate formula contained in the standard air carrier agreement. The airport will calculate the fees using both methods and invoice the airline the lower of the two amounts. To be eligible for this option, the air carrier must not discontinue any service to any airport it currently serves from MYR.

Incentive Plan B is a new program for service to international markets, where MYR will waive ALL fees, to include landing fees and terminal rents, for any scheduled non-stop, round-trip service between MYR and any international destination, including Canada, where MYR is not currently being served.

“It’s definitely not typical in today’s market, that an airport can and will offer such incredible incentives, but we are willing to give it a try.  We will all gather back up in the early spring and review where we are to see if we can sustain these incentives and continue to offer the airlines cost saving measures,” Gilland said. “It is also great to be standing here side-by-side by with the Chamber and Golf Holiday knowing that we are all working jointly for the betterment of our community and marketing our area as one of the premier tourism destinations in the world.”

For more information about the Myrtle Beach International Airport and the airlines servicing the airport, visit FlyMyrtleBeach.com.