Fourth lowest in NC and lower than 24 airports in NC, SC and VA…..New low fare Nashville service coming to PTI
For the 12 months ending September 2019, domestic airfares at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) dropped 6.2% over the same period ending September 2018. PTI’s airfares were the fourth lowest out of ten commercial airline airports in North Carolina and eighth lowest out of 24 airports in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. As examples, Charlotte, Richmond, Norfolk, Washington/Dulles, Wilmington and Columbia all had higher average roundtrip airfares for domestic USA travel than did PTI.
“I am really pleased to see this downward trend in airfares at PTI and am glad to see how we rank among peer airports in the region,” said Kevin Baker, Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.
Baker attributes part of the lower airfares to the arrival of low cost air service with Allegiant and Spirit Airlines. “Allegiant will be starting new nonstop service this June to Nashville and we should see a big drop in airfares between the Piedmont Triad and Nashville. You better book seats on Allegiant early,” said Baker.
According to US Department of Transportation fare statistics, when Allegiant began service between Richmond and Nashville in 2018 the airline’s airfares were 75% lower in the third quarter 2018 versus the same period in the previous year before Allegiant. Passengers flying from Richmond to Nashville jumped 93% in the same period after all airlines lowered their fares to be more competitive with Allegiant.
PTI’s fare report is from the US DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey for the year ending third quarter 2019 using the Cirium Diio Mi analytical tool to process the data. Copies of the PTI report are available by contacting Stephanie Freeman.
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Contact: Stephanie Freeman 336.665.5644 freemans@gsoair.org