St Pete/Clearwater Airport Discussion

This is definitely good news for PIE. It has been struggling since ATA sold its gates to SW, plus the demise of Southeast Arilines and a couple other smaller carriers and ever increasing competition from TIA.

I wonder if PIE would ever get an new terminal or be renovated. The terminal is pretty crappy and believe that even though it isn't as big as TIA, it stills deserve to be renovated atleast.

NewPortRicheyGuy said:

I wonder if PIE would ever get an new terminal or be renovated. The terminal is pretty crappy and believe that even though it isn't as big as TIA, it stills deserve to be renovated atleast.

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Why? The market conditions show there is not demand for substantial (...any...) passenger terminal out of PIE.

^^
Agreed. The terminal needs renovation, but there is no demand right now for an excessive overhaul. PIE has the smaller carriers that tend to travel to smaller city/town airports such as Key West.

This thread will be devoted to news and information regarding the St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport.

Some news links to start things off...

• Passenger Traffic Report for 2007
• Winter 2008 Newsletter (which you can subscribe to for future updates, it's free)
• Airport Website Will not display properly with some browsers. Internet Explorer is the best browser to use when viewing the website.

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St Pete/Clearwater Airport

losing another carrier. Is it perhaps time to shut it down, turn it into something else?

I loved U.S.A. 3000 man,... I'm upset to see it leaving.
It was Cheap, you got a Meal with the Flight, no extra charge, and since I'm a big ass dude they always gave me the spot on the Plane with the most leg room, without me askin for it...

This is some B.S.

I think if they want to keep it viable they need to upgrade it, its not really that attractive of an airport. If they did get rid of the airport, some cookie cutter development would probably go there, so no...

I think St.Pete airport has a reasonable amount of aircargo traffic. There are always several UPS planes parked on the tarmac.

I'm not so sure. The airport desperately needs upgrades. But I don't think the dipping economy will allow for future expansions and what not. My guess is that PIE will be in a "wait and see" game for quite a while.

It's really hard to tell what will happen to PIE in the next 3-4 years. Anyone will agree that the airport needs some help with business, aswell as redesign of the whole thing.

If PIE doesn't get new carriers shortly, I really believe that it won't last after 2010. I wouldn't even be surprised if UPS isn't talking with TIA about moving their business there in case PIE is no more. They wont wait until something like that happens, they want to get in there as fast as they can and certainly with TIA building a new terminal, they'll ask to include plans to build space for them.

Now I'm not saying that I want to see PIE close the doors, but it needs to get it's act together. We can blame the Coast Guard for not letting PIE expand, but that isn't the case on why U.S.A. 3000 left the airport. I believe PIE would be great allow more airlines, mainly short distance airlines, to come to their airport. Maybe having PIE as just an industrial airport wont hurt either.

Well, think about this: TPA will add their second terminal in the future (2015 target) and I believe that part of the plan with a new terminal is to also move the post office at the Airport.

Solution? Move it to PIE.

I still think PIE could be a secondary location for flights for some airlines as it serves a different market (as long as mass transit doesn't exist in TB). At the same time, the airports should be working together instead of seperately with regards to both air traffic and growth.

Actually, I think that airports like POK and Whitted should be shut down, with their general aviation traffic directed to St Pete/Clearwater airport... I think it's arrogant for the few well connected users of these rather exclusive airports to say it's unreasonable to drive another 20 minutes in exchange for removing all of that noise, pollution, danger and infringement from the respective downtowns and their surrounding neighborhoods. Airports and downtowns don't mix.

I really don't see the need for Tampa Int'l to expand when St. Pete/Clwtr Int'l is right there underutilized. They should work together to handle air traffic growth.

Jasonhouse said:

Actually, I think that airports like POK and Whitted should be shut down, with their general aviation traffic directed to St Pete/Clearwater airport... I think it's arrogant for the few well connected users of these rather exclusive airports to say it's unreasonable to drive another 20 minutes in exchange for removing all of that noise, pollution, danger and infringement from the respective downtowns and their surrounding neighborhoods. Airports and downtowns don't mix.

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One of the arguments that is made to keep those smaller airports alive is the possibility of air taxi service in the future. Yet with fuel costs soarng and pollution concerns, do we really want to promote more air travel? Isn't that like promoting more cars on the highways?

Just because it's more personal dioesn't mean it's a good thing... I couldn't stand Whitted when I was down in St. Pete a few years ago walking near the USF campus -- I kept getting buzzed and feelign like I should hit the floor with every plane that whizzed by.

John F said:

One of the arguments that is made to keep those smaller airports alive is the possibility of air taxi service in the future. Yet with fuel costs soarng and pollution concerns, do we really want to promote more air travel? Isn't that like promoting more cars on the highways?

Just because it's more personal dioesn't mean it's a good thing... I couldn't stand Whitted when I was down in St. Pete a few years ago walking near the USF campus -- I kept getting buzzed and feelign like I should hit the floor with every plane that whizzed by.

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They really wanted a air taxi, what a stupid idea. Not even if our economy sucks, it just seems reasonable having a metro wide rail system, then having little planes flying you from Point A to Point B.

John F, that's a great idea about the post office. If only I or someone else on here was able to suggest that to TIA,

John F said:

One of the arguments that is made to keep those smaller airports alive is the possibility of air taxi service in the future. Yet with fuel costs soarng and pollution concerns, do we really want to promote more air travel? Isn't that like promoting more cars on the highways?

Just because it's more personal dioesn't mean it's a good thing... I couldn't stand Whitted when I was down in St. Pete a few years ago walking near the USF campus -- I kept getting buzzed and feelign like I should hit the floor with every plane that whizzed by.

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Well because just like everything these days it seems this country is only investing in the rich and upper middle class, thats about the only people who could afford air taxi. I think a good re-design/expansion would help PIE, I seriously doubt anyone at TIA wants to cooperate, remember airports are a business so they want to make money not give it to PIE.

Also one thing that gets me is how poorly planned PIE is. They built a rich neighborhood to the SE of the airport and south of the airport they have a damn golf course and some other developments north of Ulmerton. Even the buildings themselves are sprawled and don't make efficient use of the space given. I think if there isn't money invested to redo the airport then its just gonna end up closing down.

Jasonhouse said:

Actually, I think that airports like POK and Whitted should be shut down, with their general aviation traffic directed to St Pete/Clearwater airport... I think it's arrogant for the few well connected users of these rather exclusive airports to say it's unreasonable to drive another 20 minutes in exchange for removing all of that noise, pollution, danger and infringement from the respective downtowns and their surrounding neighborhoods. Airports and downtowns don't mix.

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I agree Jason, I think POK needs to close. It's nothing more than a nuissance that appeases the rich...just like out government.

If nothing is done to improve PIE, it will close for sure...

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/ma...torms-dim-small-airport-prospects/?news-money

more on it.

never even been to it, but drive by it almost every day.