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Bad news for the airport may be good news for Oscar Moreno, manager of Ground Shuttle, a bus service that ferries travelers everyday from Southeast Texas to their airplane flights in Houston.
After United Airlines announced it would be pulling Jack Brooks Regional Airport’s only commercial flight service on July 1, decreasing landing fee revenue and making the airport ineligible for certain federal grants, the airport is searching for new ways to make money, to avoid downsizing its operation.
Ground Shuttle, however, has expedited plans to expand their business, buying new vans and increasing its daily trip schedule.
“I think there’s gong to be more passengers,” said Moreno. “We have to be prepared for more people coming to our business.”
Moreno said customers prefer parking for free at Jack Brooks Airport to driving to Houston.
Ground Shuttle will expand its fleet of six vans to eight and customers will now wait no more than one hour at either airport between 4 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. for a ride, Moreno said. This is down from its present 2 1/2 hour wait between shuttles.
The business is located in the Travel Agency Building, also called the old terminal, but picks up customers at many local hotels, in Beaumont and for United Airlines, whenever their flights are canceled.
“We moved people from United yesterday,” said Moreno. “It’s very strange the situation because it’s not going to be United here anymore.”
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