Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown
Answer: direct flights.
For example, I live in Boston and there are very few direct flights to either airport. JetBlue and Southwest go to Austin, but I don't think anything goes to SA (though I could be wrong). You have to connect in DFW or Houston (or even places like ATL). Having a regional airport would change that.
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A regional airport is not going to happen (at least for several generations to come). Let's just face it. Out of curiosity, what two large cities, within 80 miles of each other, are
currently developing a new "regional" airport for use by both cities as its main airport? I cannot think of any.
The northern city limit of SA is 55 miles SW of Austin's city limit (along I-35). The two downtowns are about 80 miles apart. It will cost billions to develop a regional airport (when including a must-have high-speed rail link into each downtown from the airport).
Furthermore, Austin is not going to put any money toward a new airport just so SA can have more direct flights.
Austin already has more direct flights than SA and they're airport is humming along just fine, at high speed. There is absolutely no reason for them to really listen to any argument for a regional airport at this time (or at any time in the next decade or two).
Again, SA needs to focus on ourselves and not try to rely on another city to support our needs.