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But for AC to attract new markets and the convention trades, it needs commercial air service, especially from the south where major metropolitan cities Atlanta, Dallas and Houston, have no gaming, other than state lotteries.
NJTA has offered a subsidy to airline companies that introduce new service to AC. But, to have any chance of success, the CRDA needs to promise advertising support for the originating cities, and the AC casino resorts need to guarantee, or purchase, a certain number of seats. This is a major issue as AC International Airport routes may compete with existing service into Philadelphia International Airport.
Prior to PA allowing slot machines and later table games at 7 locations near the NJ border, AC was able to bring over 14 million mid-week players by line run buses, primarily mid-week. We have lost over 90% of those customers and our casino resorts answer has been to offer room rates that are 85 to 90% less than Saturday nights; most likely $20 less than their variable operating costs (if expenses are similar to the LV Strip).
Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport, has 6 or 7 nonstop flights a day to Las Vegas, and another 80 plus that connect the two cities. Atlantic City should be able to support several flights a day from Atlanta, that would provide AC with connecting service from most North American metropolitan areas, plus many from other parts of Europe, South America, and even Asia.