Hooters to cease service

Discount airline Hooters Air, one of the most audacious air carriers in history, is set to call it quits from April 17. After that date, instead of a regularly scheduled air service, it will use its fleet of vintage 737s for private charters.

The airline is owned by Hooters restaurant owner, Bob Brooks, and featured scantily clad flight attendants.

At present, the carrier flies to the resort destination of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR) from four airports: Newark Liberty International (EWR), Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL), Allentown-Lehigh Valley International (ABE), and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International (PIE). At one time, the route network was far more extensive. The carrier served 15 destinations as recently as July 2005. There were flights from Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Las Vegas (LAS) among others.

In an exclusive report, The Sun News of Myrtle Beach quotes Brad Dean, president of the local chamber of commerce, as saying “fewer flights mean fewer people coming into the destination”. Dean says Hooters Air was pumping 1,000 to 1,200 passengers per week into the local market.

Dean is also concerned that losing the discount airline may pump up airfares as well. “What you don’t know is the impact on prices,” he says.

Bob Brooks, Hooters Air founder and president, is decidedly disenchanted with the airline business these days. “The flying industry is in a terrible mess,” The Sun News quotes him as saying. “I’ve got a fair amount of money, but I don’t have enough to fix this animal.”

Sky-high fuel prices and lots of competition into Myrtle Beach have impacted Hooters’ bottom line.

Hooters’ retreat doesn’t leave the popular South Carolina seaside resort entirely lacking in air service. Delta Connection offers flights from Atlanta (ATL) and Cincinnati (CVG), as does US Airways from New York LaGuardia (LGA), Charlotte (CLT), and Reagan Washington National (DCA). United Express flies to Myrtle Beach from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Washington Dulles (IAD). Northwest Airlines and discount airline Spirit Airlines offer flights from Detroit Metro (DTW). Spirit also flies nonstop from New York LaGuardia to Myrtle Beach.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler