Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) in California has selected Hiltachk Marketing Group and locally-based Blaze PR to support its efforts to increase outbound passenger traffic.
According to the airport, the Hiltachk and Blaze team was selected after a request for proposals process due to their understanding of the specific challenges the airport faces.
“Deanna Zachrisson, SBA’s business development manager, said, “We appreciate their thoughtful approach to really getting to the core of what we need to do as an airport in order to convert residents into resident travelers.”
According to Hiltachk, effort will be focused on appealing to local travelers with the benefits of departing from your local airport versus the costs in time, money and aggravation inherent with choosing a more distant, larger airport such as Los Angeles or Burbank.
Kimberlie Hiltachk, founder of Hiltachk Marketing Group, said, “From a marketing perspective there is nothing to spin with Santa Barbara Airport. The airport offers unparalleled conveniences in a new airline terminal specifically designed to scale with increased passenger demand. And the new, larger Boeing 737 and Airbus 319-320 class aircraft serving SBA are contributing to double-digit passenger growth. SBA has built it, now it’s our job to ensure they come.
“Travelers too often make a ticket purchase based on number of stops and price. We tend to forget that driving or taking a bus nearly 100 miles south on congested freeways comes at a significant personal and pocketbook cost.”
For Blaze Pr has a longstanding relationship with the airport thanks to its office in Santa Barbara. Erinn Lynch, vice president at the agency, commented, “We are thrilled to be able to support the airport’s goals. As local residents, it behooves us to use SBA and root for its continued success. Increased outbound traffic begets bigger planes, new carriers and destinations and price reductions. It’s a win-win for all of us.”