The temporary shutdown of a Myrtle Beach airline could affect spring tourism. Now that Direct Air has suspended flights until mid-May, Grand Strand tourism officials are scrambling to find other ways for visitors to get here.
That would include people like Triniti Morris of Buffalo, New York, who spent seven months raising money to attend a cheerleading competition in Myrtle Beach next week.
The 12-year-old's mother booked a flight on Direct Air, and now that the airline has stopped flying, Triniti may have to miss the trip. Her mom can't afford last-minute tickets on another airline.
"So $400 for the two of us has jumped to $1,400 which, especially as a single mother, with all the fundraising we do definitely, is not an option," said Noelle Doyle, Triniti's mother.
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is trying to get other airlines to pick up Direct Air's routes, but there's no way they can do that in time to help Triniti or anyone else in the short term.
"This is early enough where other airlines can come in and add some routes and we're hoping that'll happen before the summer season, but for those visitors looking to travel in the next few weeks, they're going to have to look to other airlines or drive to the Grand Strand," said chamber president Brad Dean.
Dean said it's not unusual for an airline to drop service, though it's disappointing it happened at this time of year and with no advance warning. He said there's still hope Direct Air can re-emerge in time for summer, possibly under another name and after making changes in operations.
"We're hopeful that will happen, but in the interim we can't count on that. We've got to work with the existing airlines and hopefully get more routes here sooner."
Dean said the chamber has had to retool some of its promotions because of the loss of Direct Air but they will continue to advertise in all the markets where Myrtle Beach still has air service.
More than 92,000 passengers flew out of Myrtle Beach on Direct Air last year.
