Flights Cut at Chattanooga Airport

Seven dollars for a pillow and blanket, 25 dollars for checked baggage, airlines are doing everything they can to offset the high cost of fuel. Some are even cutting flights altogether.

A jumbo airliner takes off from the Chattanooga airport. But come September, fewer flights will be taking off.

Christina Siebold is a spokesperson for the Chattanooga Airport. She says, "We've seen three cuts and they've all been related to the price of fuel."

The first cut came in April with SkyBus. The airline had been operating out of Chattanooga for only four months when they decided to cancel their flight to Columbus, Ohio. Continental is pulling its flight to Houston starting next month. Also next month, Allegiant Air is canceling its services to Fort Lauderdale. A turbulent year for Chattanooga air travel, especially given last year's record growth.

Siebold says, "Last year we were up 22% in passenger traffic here at the Chattanooga Airport." Siebold says part of the increase came from more leisure travelers heading to Florida hot spots, tavelers like Toni Hudson.

Hudson says, "We've got our bags and we're going to Tampa for the weekend." Hudson had never used the Chattanooga Airport until a low-cost airline began flying to Florida. Now, she's goes several times a year. "It's so nice to be able to fly out of Chattanooga when you can. If it's affordable, we will definitely fly out of Chattanooga."

But even the longest line of Florida-bound passengers may not be able to help the airlines with the soaring cost of fuel. Siebold says Allegiant's Fort Lauderdale flights were 95% full, but the airline is still cutting that service. Now the airport is doing all it can to prevent even more loss.

"We're talking to our elected officials about addressing the problem (the energy crisis problem) as quickly as possible. We're also working with airlines to find out what we can do to partner with them to continue to maintain and grow their service here in Chattanooga, " sas Siebold.

So far this year air passenger travel is up five percent at the Chattanooga Airport.