New deals aim to stop the Houston-San Antonio exodus.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Air travel out of Corpus Christi International Airport could soon get a boost if airlines decide to take the deal.
Airport officials say they’ve made another push to Southwest Airlines, offering incentives to add more nonstop flights from the Coastal Bend. The goal is simple: stop the steady stream of travelers driving to Houston or San Antonio just to catch a flight.
Airport Director Richard McCurley says the region is losing a major chunk of potential passengers, something the industry calls “leakage.”
Right now, he estimates about 68% of travelers in the area are flying out of other cities.
McCurley believes that’s an opportunity airlines shouldn’t ignore.
He says routes to destinations like Las Vegas or Orlando could be profitable if carriers tap into that existing demand.
A similar pitch has also been made to American Airlines. This time for a nonstop route to Phoenix. That route, he says, could cut down on long drives and layovers while capturing even more local passengers.
Still, airport leaders acknowledge they can only do so much.
Board member Jesse Noyola put it plainly: the airport can make offers, but it’s ultimately up to the airlines to decide if the routes make business sense.
Meanwhile, there’s some momentum already on the runway.
A station manager with Southwest Airlines told the board the Corpus Christi operation was recently ranked the top station in the country, outperforming 59 others.
And there may be more growth ahead.
McCurley says Frontier Airlines could look to expand service in Corpus Christi, pointing to increasing demand on its Denver route.
For now, travelers in the Coastal Bend are left waiting to see whether those deals actually turn into departure times on the board.