Indy Nonstops Not Stopping
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowLast week, Indianapolis International Airport announced new flights to Austin, Texas and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, bringing the number of nonstop routes in Indy to 46, the highest total in years. And it appears more may be on the way. In an interview on Inside INdiana Business Television, airport Executive Director Mario Rodriguez said demand will likely fuel more nonstops in existing, high profile markets. "Absolutely, you can probably see more into the Seattle route, more into the San Francisco route and San Diego is just the beginning," said Rodriguez, who adds, "we’ve been hearing the tech community."
Rodriguez also says work continues to progress on a nonstop to either London or Frankfurt.
A lack of nonstop flights has long been seen as a business liability for Indianapolis and the airport has been working to change things with groups including the Indiana Economic Development Corp., city of Indianapolis, Visit Indy, Indy Chamber and Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
The work seems to be paying off.
The roster of 46 Indy nonstops is the most for the airport since the high flying days of locally-based American Trans Air. Nonstops added over the past two years include markets long coveted by the business community, including San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, San Diego and additional routes into New York.
Efforts to land an international nonstop have also gained momentum.
Rodriguez says meetings are scheduled this year with multiple airlines, including British Airways and United, aimed at securing a nonstop to either London or Frankfurt. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s proposed budget includes up to $5 million to help attract international flights to the state.
"We have the right story," said Rodriguez. "The right story is we have enough passengers going to Europe to sustain a flight directly to London Heathrow or to Frankfurt."
View the full interview here: