The Charlotte County Airport has come a long way in the years that Commissioner Seay has served on the board.
From 1997 to 2001, the airport had been growing slowly and steadily as a positive economic center for the county. On September 11, 2001, the country was dealt a horrible blow with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, on the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania. The actions that changed aviation dramatically. Your Charlotte County Airport rebounded swiftly, and continued to grow and provide a solid foundation for economic development in the county.
On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley devastated the Charlotte County Airport. Most of the t-hangars and many of the buildings and businesses at the airport were destroyed. Many believed that it was the end of the Airport. But not the Commissioner Seay and the rest of the Airport Authority members. On August 14, just one day after the hurricane blew through the airport, the Commissioners held an emergency meeting -- standing in a heavily damaged though still-standing office space at the airport -- and authorized the beginning of the re-building process.
Since that time, the airport has re-built destroyed t-hangars and added more. We have replaced destroyed buildings, including the old main building with a modern, though modest, commercial aviation terminal. We have purchased and re-furbished a new building in which is housed the new FBO and general aviation operations. We successfully launched commercial aviation operations at the airport.
Challenges, however, continue. Rising fuel prices and aviation industry challenges led to the rapid demise of Skybus Airlines, the fledgling commercial service at the airport. With rising fuel prices comes the inevitable reduction in fuel sales. Assuring the future of the airport is a key function of the Authority. Through diversification within the aviation industry, support of general aviation, and marketing both aviation and non-aviation properties to potential tenants, the Airport will survive these challenges as well.
The announcement of Direct Air and its commercial service to Charlotte County is a welcome step towards a positive future, providing a balanced blend of commercial and general aviation at the Charlotte County Airport.
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