Every candidate for the Charlotte County Airport Authority has told us the board needs to increase its marketing efforts to take advantage of its expanded infrastructure, solid passenger numbers and advantageous pricing for airlines. Four-term incumbent Commissioner Pay Seay is no exception and she has specific goals and strategies she wants the airport to pursue, including passenger surveys, partnerships with the hospitality industry and adding a full-time marketing position.

She said the airport needs better data on hotel stays by passengers as well as feedback on potential new markets would-be passengers would like airlines to serve. Of course, recruiting another airline or two to replace the departed DirectAir is Job No. 1 for the board, she said. The board has worked with its remaining carrier, Allegiant Air, to add new destinations and to base more aircraft here, which would enhance revenue from fuel sales. As the airport approaches its millionth passenger, Seay said “those numbers are the best marketing we could buy.”