While attention has been focused on the New Castle County Airport, Sussex County is taking a close look at a key driver in its economic future.
The report from R.A. Wiedemann Associates on the Sussex County Airport was released last week, with a presentation made to the County Council. Funding came from the Delaware Department of Transportation.
The Sussex report recommended the airport is in need of re-branding that would reflect its coastal location and help draw more private aircraft. After all, the U.S. has more than one Sussex County.
A marketing program and an enhanced social media presence were also recommended, with the fixed base operator that provides services to visiting aircraft being involved in the marketing effort.
Strengths of the airport include access to the Delaware beaches, which attract more than 6 million visitors a year and has more than 35,000 second homes. Luring a small percentage of affluent visitors with access to private aircraft could pay off in added revenues, a story on the report in the Cape Gazette noted.
The report recommended that the airport make an effort to attract corporate jets. Twenty-four jets are based in the Delmarva region, with another 61 jets based in Delaware
Among the suggestions for names floated in the report are Southern Delaware Regional Airport, Southern Delaware Regional Jetport and Delaware Coastal Airport.
The report indicates that the airport supports 872 jobs that account for $51.2 million in wages, $6.9 million in state and local taxes, and more than $139 million in economic activity.
A large chunk of that activity comes from PATS, a passenger jet re-fitter that has operations at the airport. Much of the focus of the county and state has been on extending the runway at the airport so larger jets can fly into the airport for refurbishing work.
The work typically focuses on adding long-range fuel tanks and custom cabins for jets that are going out of airline service. The large aircraft are refitted for use by wealthy families and governments.
The state is involved in developing the airport and its runway project. Also, Delaware Technical Community College is expanding its aviation programs to meet the need for skilled workers at PATS and other employers.
The airport runs an operating loss of slightly more than $300,000 a year, with projections in the report estimating that loss could be reduced, but not eliminated by 2022.
The county is not under great pressure to cut the losses, due its sound finances and low property tax rate.
Not listed as a priority for the airport is airline service, probably due to neighboring Salisbury, Md.
Salisbury has managed to hang on to service, although continuing consolidation of the industry clouds its future. U.S. Airways, the carrier serving Salisbury and American Airlines are on their way to a merger. While the merger deal with the federal government puts pressure on the carriers to retain service, aviation experts say cuts could be made at what will be the world’s largest airline.
Salisbury passenger traffic totals about 100,000 a year. Traffic out of New Castle, where Frontier Airlines launched service in July already totals about 70,000 departures and arrivals. Click here for a copy of the report. (Photos from the Wiedemann Associates report).
