Jilted airport disses Southwest Airlines but now engages in sweet-talk
Skift Take
Small to midsize airports have taken the brunt of airline service cutbacks over the years, and Sarasota Airport is doing its best to recoup flights, which is often a precursor to attracting new business in the community.
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is keeping an open dialogue with Southwest Airlines despite its marketing encouraging travelers to not fly with the carrier.
Rick Piccolo, president and chief executive officer of the airport, told his Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority board Monday morning that the two sides are talking again.
"We reinstituted contact with them, all we're doing is talking," Piccolo told the Herald. "It's a good exercise for both. Good for us, good for them."
Southwest's AirTran service left SRQ airport in 2012, and the airport started a Do You SRQ? marketing campaign to have passengers and organizations pledging to use the airport and its carriers, basically nixing Southwest out of the equation.
While Piccolo is still pushing that pledge, internal talks between the two sides to resume service in some manner are ongoing.
"What applied a year ago may not apply today, and may not apply five years from now," Piccolo said. "We're very gracious, looking forward to continuing the dialo
