Branson Airport signs Buzz charter service

Corporate Flight Management Inc., a charter flight service company that does business as Buzz Airways, will begin serving Branson Airport flyers June 12.

The move is designed to pick up some of the slack caused by the impending exit of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV). Southwest, which began flying out of BKG in March 2013 and was later credited with pushing positive financials at the struggling airport, announced in December it would cease its service in Branson. The company officially ends its nonstop flights to Orlando, Fla., Chicago, Dallas and Houston at BKG on June 8, according to a news release

Buzz Airways will offer nonstop flights to Chicago and Houston. Its aircraft support passenger counts of up to 30 seats.

“Our airport team is working hard to fill the gap created by Southwest Airlines’ departure, and we are focusing on securing replacement air service in 2015," BKG Executive Director Jeff Bourk said in the release.

Buzz Airways Chief Commercial Officer Matt Chaifetz said Southwest demonstrated a demand for airline services to Branson. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Branson’s load factors on Southwest planes were 81.2 percent, indicating the airport filled eight out of 10 seats the airline flew out of BKG. The airline’s systemwide average in 2013 was 80.35 percent.

"Buzz Airways is here to provide service to communities that have faced a reduction or elimination of flights by the major airlines and their regional partners," Chaifetz said in the release. "With average load factors in excess of 80 percent, Southwest has clearly demonstrated the existence of demand in these particular markets."