Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2024

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

SMALL BUT MIGHTY DAB Battles Leakage, Seeks New Service To Maximize Impact

BY CAROL WARD

ditor’s Note: Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) has always struggled to retain passengers. The coastal town of Daytona Beach is about 75 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO), and the breadth of flights offered there means travelers often choose the larger airport by default. But DAB, a non-hub airport, is growing. In 2023 DAB served 720,000 passengers, up 7.1% over 2019 levels. Airport Director Karen Feaster is looking for further growth. She recently spoke with AXN’s Carol Ward about her goals going forward. E

WARD: I know you’ve had a long career at Daytona Beach International Airport. Can you share how your career grew in the airport? FEASTER: When I started (more than 30 years ago) they were building a new terminal. I went to Embry Riddle University and I watched them build this facility, and then I was a volunteer intern. After that I went into airport operations and then kind of worked my way through the opportunities. I think that’s really what caused, or allowed, me to be committed to Daytona – I was fortunate that I was able to advance in my career through just the one airport. WARD: You were named director in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was raging. Now that you have a few years under your belt as director and the pandemic is in the rear view, what’s your vision for developing the airport over the next five or 10 years? FEASTER: We have a lot of opportunities. Our Florida Department of Transportation does an economic impact study every year, and last year our impact was $3.2 billion. Our goal is to always grow that number. We have some vacant property on the south side of the airport, and our goal is to really get that property ready for development, leased out and developed. The revenue coming in will help lower the airline costs, which

would hopefully increase the air service. Our goal is to increase air service, and we need to increase the non-aeronautical revenues to make that happen. WARD: You’re focused heavily on air service development. Where are the gaps in your market or in your service? FEASTER: We’re very fortunate in that we do have two legacy carriers – Delta Air Lines and American Airline s. And last year Avelo Airlines started in our market. They fly from Daytona to New Haven – New York is our top market so that covers that area. Also, Sun Country Airlines frequently does charters. We have pretty good service [for] a non-hub airport. We’re in good shape, but there’s so much opportunity. We had a leakage study done and it shows that only 16% of our passengers come to Daytona International Airport. So that leaves a huge opportunity for a carrier to come in and grab that 84% [that is currently leaking to larger cities] . Of the 84%, 78% is going to Orlando. Orlando is an awesome airport. They’re growing, and they’re great worldwide with tons of options. However, parking is a huge problem right now for them – they’re just so overloaded and it’s very inconvenient for the passenger. Then there are long TSA lines. We really push and promote our customer experience. We like to say at DAB, you’re a VIP because it’s a totally

Above: Karen Feaster, director, Daytona Beach International Airport.

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AX NEWS JUNE 2024