Branson Airport Receives Prestigious Award For Growth

Nov. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- BRANSON, MISSOURI  - The Airline and Airport News & Analysis website anna.aero has awarded Branson Airport (BKG) the anna.aero U$ ANNIE Prize 2010 “Fastest Growing US Airport 100,000-500,000 passenger category.”  Opening just over 15 months ago, seat capacity at the Branson Airport has more than doubled in only one year of service as a result of expanded AirTran flights, the addition of Frontier service and the development of Branson AirExpress.  

   “We are very pleased to be the recipient of this award,” stated Jeff Bourk, executive director of Branson Airport.  “The fact that these awards are based on statistics makes our entire team proud as we continue to offer low fares and convenience for passengers traveling from more and more cities to Branson.  The airport is poised for significant growth in 2011.”
   
   “The importance of the anna.aero U$ ANNIE Prizes are their basis on science, statistics and evidence rather than merely the opinions of a panel of judges or votes. Using OAG (Official Airline Guide) schedule data for over 670 airports and almost 100 airlines operating in the US market, our team of data experts have poured over the figures and come up with a transparent way of rewarding airlines and airports that have achieved notable route and traffic-related success in the US during the last year,” said anna.aero Editor Ralph Anker, himself a former route planner with the European low cost airline easyJet.

   The Branson Airport now has 12 non-stop destinations including Atlanta, Denver, Milwaukee, Orlando, Houston, Austin, Chicago, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Gulfport/Biloxi, Nashville and Shreveport.  From the AirTran and Frontier hubs travelers can connect to over 100 other cities conveniently.  

   “Congratulations to Jeff Bourk and the entire Branson team, including the people of Branson and the surrounding communities for receiving this honor,” said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways’ senior vice president, marketing and planning. “The support AirTran Airways has experienced since launching commercial service from Branson has been excellent. Branson is proving to be a very strong air service market.”

   “Branson has very quickly become one of our top markets,” said Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s vice president of strategy and planning, “and we expect that service to continue to grow.”

   “What a great award for the airport to receive, our community in Branson should be proud,” said Rachel Wood, Branson AirExpress’ business development manager. “We are excited about our continued relationship with the Branson Airport and our other airport partners.”       

   For anna.aero and U$ Annie Award information contact Paul J. Hogan, publisher by email at
paul.hogan@anna.aero or by phone +011 44 1293 783851 (London/Gatwick office).  To view the full list of awards visit www.anna.aero.  

About anna.aero: anna.aero (an acronym of Airline Network News & Analysis) is a specialist airline route news website visited by 45,000 airline and airport executives worldwide.

About Branson Airport: Opening its doors May of 2009, Branson Airport LLC is the first privately developed and operated commercial service airport in the United States. Currently serviced by AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines and Branson AirExpress; additional carriers and destinations are on the horizon. Located in the heart of the Ozarks and centrally located in the Midwest, the airport also boasts a state of the art FBO, Branson JetCenter and a full service travel agency and public charter operator, FlyBranson Travel LLC d/b/a Branson AirExpress.  For more information on Branson Airport LLC and any of its subsidiaries please visit FlyBranson.com.

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Branson Airport is the first privately developed & operated commercial service airport in the U.S. Currently serviced by AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines and Branson AirExpress, a scheduled public charter service managed by FlyBranson Travel Services.