Mobile to shift commercial airline flights to more convenient downtown airport
Flyers to Mobile, Alabama, will be landing at a more conveniently located airport in a few years after officials there announced plans to relocate commercial passenger flights to the Mobile Downtown Airport.
Following two years of study, the Mobile Airport Authority has unveiled a master plan that calls for all commercial air service to move to the centrally-located Mobile Downtown (BFM) from Mobile Regional (MOB) airport in the next few years. A new airline terminal at the Downtown facility would feature eight gates and be located adjacent to the Interstate 10 highway that runs through the city.
The move would make the airport more convenient to flyers, encouraging more airlines to add service thus lowering airfares, the airport authority says.
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American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines serve Mobile Regional. Frontier Airlines served Mobile Downtown, where it used a temporary interim terminal from May 2019 through this May, according to Cirium schedules.
Mobile Regional has long lacked flights by any discount airlines. Only major carriers have served the airport except for a few brief exceptions since 2004, Cirium shows.
“To revitalize Mobile’s commercial passenger service and recapture its market of travelers… moving service from the poorly located Mobile Regional Airport to the Mobile Downtown Airport [is] critical," the airport authority said in a video on the master plan.
Related: JetBlue’s first Airbus A220 nears completion in Alabama
According to the airport, Mobile loses about 55% of its potential flyers to the larger and more conveniently located New Orleans (MSY) and Pensacola (PNS) airports. The assessment was conducted prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mobile Regional served 650,375 passengers in 2019, according to U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data via Cirium. For comparison, New Orleans served 13.8 million passengers and Pensacola 2.2 million passengers.
The airport authority touts the convenience of the proposed passenger terminal as its big selling point. The facility would be located about a 10 minute drive from downtown Mobile whereas the existing terminal is at least a 30 minute drive, according to Google Maps.
Related: Airbus rolls out first A220 assembled in Mobile
One benefactor from the terminal is Airbus. The European planemaker's U.S. A220 and A320 final assembly lines are located at Mobile Downtown, about a five minute drive from the proposed terminal.
Airbus uses its Mobile facility to assemble jets for American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and others.
Mobile does not have an opening date for the planned commercial air service move to Mobile Downtown. The timeline depends on planning, design and construction work for the terminal, which also includes parking and roadway improvements.
The new terminal would cost roughly $160 million, according to AL.com.
Related: Fast-growing Frontier Airlines takes delivery of 100th Airbus
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- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees