The passenger count at Tulsa International Airport was up four percent last year, and officials hope that continues.
A study done a couple years ago says Tulsa International loses thousands of passengers to Dallas each year. Airport Director Jeff Mulder said they’ll make the four and a half hour drive for cheaper flights or more direct ones.
"What brings those people back is competition," Mulder said. "Lower airfares. More frequency. All of those things."
Bigger passenger counts can lure airlines into adding more flights. Mulder said that was the case with low-cost carrier Allegiant, which is adding nonstop flights to Tampa, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
"As they started service to Orlando [in 2013], the service grew, and as more people took the service, they probably told their family members, friends, business associates — and that always helps build a service," Mulder said.
He hopes more big carriers follow suit and Allegiant's new routes benefit the region on a bigger scale than people visiting family members in Oklahoma.
"The intent certainly would be to attract people from outside this area, and that always brings in new dollars," Mulder said. "And so it benefits both the local residents, but it also helps in attracting new business and conventions and visitors."
