American Airlines’ plan to launch regular scheduled service at Naples Airport in Florida drew mixed reactions at a public meeting Thursday as officials overseeing the general aviation-focused facility said they will continue to study the proposal.
According to WZVN-TV, American is looking to add two to three flights per day between Naples and Charlotte, North Carolina, starting in December. The flights would be operated by American subsidiary PSA, using 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft.
Airline officials told the Naples Airport Authority board that there is unmet demand, among both residents and tourists, for more convenient travel options. Many travelers in the area rely on Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.
Naples Airport is mainly used for general aviation. It has one commercial operator, JSX, which offers seasonal flights to White Plains, New York.
Some meeting attendees agreed with American that regular commercial service in Naples would be more convenient than continuing to rely on Fort Myers. Supporters also pointed to the new jobs that could be created with the arrival of a major carrier.
But others raised concerns about aircraft noise, which they said is already a problem in the neighborhoods around the airport. One woman told WZVN that other airlines could follow American to Naples, transforming the airport into a “regional commercial hub.”
American previously served Naples via American Eagle until pulling out in 2001. US Airways terminated service there in 2003, and Delta, which offered Delta Connection flights via Atlantic Southeast Airlines, withdrew in 2007.
The airport authority said it will continue to evaluate American’s proposal and expects to revisit the matter at its next meeting in June.
