CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx. — It might sound like a problem that requires a plumber, but reducing 'leakage' could be key to the future success of Corpus Christi International Airport a city-hired consultant told the city council Tuesday. Leakage occurs when local travelers choose to drive to airports outside of Corpus Christi to do their flying.
"We'll never get to 100%", consultant Dan Benzon of Landrum & Brown said about keeping local travelers local. "There will always be some deal or something that allows people to go."
Currently, Benzon's data tells him that 41% of all Corpus Christi-area travelers 'leak.' Cheaper fares in Houston, San Antonio, and even Austin for some international travelers are likely the most common driving force. But ease of travel once you get to the airport is another.
"I actually sometimes drive to another airport because of the situation that we don't have a lot of non-stop flights," Corpus Christi traveler Ryan Moe said. "That's what we really need over here in Corpus Christi, more non-stop flights."
If price is what's driving you to airports outside of the Coastal Bend, Benzon points to a useful Trip Calculator on the Corpus Christi International Airport website. You can access it by clicking here.
