Myrtle Beach loses another airline; Delta steps up

Airlines continue to be schizoid when it comes to Myrtle Beach. The come in, they drop out, they return, they fold, they give up, they try again.

The latest is Air Tran Airways’ decision to not return in the spring for its cheap Atlanta-to-Myrtle Beach route. The airline, which ended in seasonal service in November, said it didn’t have enough higher-paying customers, or business-class travelers to justify the return.

Look, when you’re a low-cost carrier, what do you expect?

Of course it hurts Myrtle Beach tourism. Atlanta is a huge hub: you know the old saying – When I die and go to heaven or hell, I’ll have a stopover in Atlanta.

The loss is mitigated somewhat by Delta’s decision to use bigger planes for the same route this summer.