| The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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DAYTONA BEACH — American Airlines in mid-December began offering daily nonstop flights here to and from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, as well as to and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on a trial basis for the winter.
Evidently, the airline has seen enough to decide to extend nonstop service to both destinations into the summer.
Service to both destinations began Dec. 17 and was originally set to end April 5.
Daytona Beach International Airport officials last month announced that the airline decided to continue offering daily nonstop flights to its hub airport in Dallas, Texas, through Aug. 16.
Previously: American Airlines adds nonstop flights to Dallas and Philly at Daytona airport
More: Daytona airport welcomes start of daily flights to Dallas, Philly
On Thursday, the airport announced that American has decided to proceed with pausing Philadelphia flights from early April through June 2, but will resume daily nonstop flights June 3 through Sept. 7.
“This is more great news for the community as the airlines continue to increase service at Daytona Beach International Airport,” said Airport Director Karen Feaster.
Locals who fly from here to Philadelphia can catch connecting flights to Maine, Vermont and Connecticut, according to airport officials. Likewise, those flying nonstop to Dallas/Fort Worth are able to catch connecting flights to destinations throughout the western United States.
“These new flights are a great addition to the current offerings for our local community, and route planners also believe there will be traditional demand from the Northeast for travel to DAB as their primary vacation destination,” said Joanne Magley, the airport’s marketing & customer experience director.
American is based in Dallas, Texas.
American for a number of years now has been offering multiple daily flghts here to and from its hub airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, on a year-round basis. That service will also continue.
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Daytona airport also offers multiple daily flights by Delta Air Lines to and from that airline’s hub airport in Atlanta, Georgia, all year long.
“It’s fantastic,” said Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County, upon hearing about American’s decision to extend its daily nonstop service to and from Dallas and Philadelphia.
“Now we’ve got Dallas and Philadelphia extended. We’ve done the job in terms of helping to fill seats,” said Davis. “We’re thrilled and we will continue to support American Airlines just like we supported JetBlue when they provided nonstop service to New York. It’s too bad that JetBlue didn’t look at the improving passenger numbers before deciding to end that service (in January 2019).”
The Northeast has for many years been one of the biggest sources of out-of-state tourists to the Daytona Beach area.
“We never thought Texas was a tourism market for us because of the distance,” said Davis, referring to the long drive time to get here by car.
“That changed after Evelyn Fine of Mid-Florida Marketing & Research did a focus group a few years ago,” he said. “We found that they like coming here because of the beaches, the weather, NASCAR and all the other attractions including our great hospitality.”
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Fine, president of Mid-Florida Marketing & Research in Daytona Beach, said the focus groups were conducted in Dallas and Houston a few years ago. “The findings were excellent. We discovered people in Texas were absolutely interested in Florida. They were also intrigued by Daytona Beach. Dallas people said they didn’t mind the drive at all (via Interstates 10 and 95). Several expressed interest in checking out the beaches along the East Coast.”
Georgia Turner, executive director of West Volusia Tourism in DeLand, also expressed enthusiasm upon learning about American Airlines’ decision.
“It’s great news. We’re mostly a drive market, but whenever we can get new markets coming into our area via airline flights, that’s a good thing,” she said.
