The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority and the Regional Transportation Alliance have teamed up on a three-year, $500,000 initiative known as the Air Service Advancement Project that is aimed at improving international air service at Raleigh-Durham International (RDU).
The objectives of the program include sustaining and increasing non-stop service to Europe, Asia, the Americas and Middle East; maximizing regional competitiveness with worldwide markets; spurring and retaining a multi-million dollar annual economic impact that comes along with each international flight; and supporting the ability to attract business growth and top talent to the Research Triangle Region.
“I would like to thank the business community for coming together to form this initiative,” says Michael Landguth, president and CEO at RDU. “This program sends a strong message to airlines that our business community is engaged in air-service recruitment and is committed to strengthening non-stop international service from RDU.”
Tactics will include regional marketing strategies to highlight air service opportunities, advertising RDU and the region through traditional and new media, and promotion at industry events. The project has received $58,000 thus far in cash pledges from companies and organizations, as well as $168,000 in in-kind commitments from partners.
