THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 30, 1995 TAG: 9510300036
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Buoyed by a preliminary report projecting a high demand for air transportation between Manteo and Norfolk, Dare County aviation officials plan to seek a carrier for the route.
The report, developed by the Washington, D.C., firm of Kurth and Co., predicts that 109,000 passengers annually would use an air carrier if service were available from Manteo to Hampton Roads.
``I've been in contact with representatives of some of the regional carriers to try to determine what steps we need to go through in order to get service here,'' Tim Gaylord, manager of the Dare County Airport, said Friday.
Gaylord said he plans to approach about 20 airlines about coming to the Outer Banks.
The study indicates that during the summer tourist season, 11 routes, carrying about 40 passengers per flight, would be needed. During the winter, the routes would be reduced to three.
The number of flights would be determined by the carrier.
``Based on the study, we would average about 1,300 local passengers per month. In terms of out-of-town visitors, the numbers are as low as 582 passengers per month, and as high as 18,000,'' depending on the season, Gaylord said. The company used a variety of small airports in trying to determine its projections, including Hilton Head, S.C.; Florence, S.C.; and Staunton, Va.
The final report is expected to be completed by January. by CNB