Tallahassee Airport TallahasseeVoices is a pro bono internet survey panel sponsored by Kerr & Downs Research, which is solely responsible for information contained within TallahasseeVoices’ reports. Survey was conducted in April 2011 with 523 panel members responding. Contact: Phillip Downs, Ph.D., Founder, TallahasseeVoices Professor of Marketing, Florida State University Senior Partner, Kerr & Downs Research

How to increase economic development potential for this area’s air service facilities As a tactic for improving commercial air service to Tallahassee, 6 times as many citizens support Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda’s idea of creating an airport authority for Tallahassee Regional Airport (42%) than support Mayor Marks’ idea of expanding the General Aviation facility (7%). Citizens believe that neither idea has significant merit: – 29% believe creating an airport authority has merit for increasing the economic development potential of this area’s air service facilities – 13% believe expanding the General Aviation facility has merit for increasing the economic development potential of this area’s air service facilities

Information given to TallahasseeVoices panelists State Representative Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda has filed a “shell bill” in the Florida Legislature setting up the concept of an airport authority for Tallahassee Regional Airport. She states that establishing an airport authority will help the airport become more of an economic asset to the community. She notes that air ridership has decreased for the past five years. Last year, the City Charter Review Committee recommended creation of an airport authority to focus on improving economic vitality. City of Tallahassee Mayor John Marks replies that “I’ve not heard any complaints about operations of our airport. The complaints are over air service – rates and schedules – that the City has no control over. Marks adds, “We don’t see a benefit to an (airport) authority.” To assist economic development, Marks wants to focus on expanding the General Aviation facility where private airplanes, not commercial carriers such as Delta and US Airways, operate.

In general which idea seems to have more merit for increasing the economic development potential of this area’s air service facilities?

In general, which idea seems to have more potential for improving the commercial air service in this area?

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