Report: Chattanooga airport should look to north Georgia

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE - The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport should try to attract more customers from Georgia, including North Atlanta, a panel that evaluated the airport said Tuesday. <br> <br> A report by a task force appointed in late June by Mayor Bob Corker said the airport&#39;s 290,000 boardings should be more than doubled over the next several years to attract a low-fare carrier. <br> <br> ``Very simply, Chattanooga must increase passenger volume to be a player in the air service industry,&#39;&#39; the report said. ``Until more Chattanoogans, North Georgia residents and Southeast Tennessee passengers use our airport, our options for increased service from airlines are bleak.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> In addition to the Chattanooga airport&#39;s convenience, it should develop a reputation for its customer service and possibly offer incentives for repeat customers, the task force said. <br> <br> ``Contrary to traditional thought, the proximity to Atlanta can be viewed as a positive factor,&#39;&#39; the task force said. Chattanooga is about 100 miles from Atlanta. <br> <br> American Air Lines-American Eagle, Delta-ASA, Delta-Comair, Delta Connection, Northwest-Northwest Airlink and US Airways Express currently provide passenger service. <br> <br> The task force said Chattanooga should continue pursuing low cost carriers like Southwest Airlines, which doesn&#39;t fly to Atlanta and might reach that market from Chattanooga. <br> <br> Southwest spokeswoman Christine Turneabe-Connelly said about 150 cities compete for the airline&#39;s services annually. She said no cities were added this year.