Airport campaign aims to change public perception

Recent surveys have shown a lack of awareness of the airport, particularly of the cities it flies to, according to an airport news release.

“Many people have a mental image of our airport that’s several years out-of-date,” said Kent Boyd, public information and marketing director, in a news release. “They think we have five destinations and that every fare costs too much. We had five destinations back in 1992. Today we have 12 destinations and a low-cost airline.”

To try to update public perception and, ultimately, increase passenger numbers, the airport worked with the Springfield Business & Development Corp. for the commercial production.

Five well-known Springfieldians lent their voices:

• Tim Rosenbury, principal with Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc.;

• Brooke O’Reilly, Junior League volunteer;

• Doug Pitt, owner of ServiceWorld Computer Center Inc.;

• Matt Gifford, general manager of the Springfield Cardinals; and

• Sally Hargis, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. vice president of corporate strategy.