We at 573 Magazine always look for super cool people, places, and passions around the area. Well, we found something we know you will love. A super cool and super convenient way to get to Nashville and the world beyond—so cheap it would only cost you as little as $25-$48 and 26 minutes. With Contour Airlines out of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, you can fly into Nashville in the morning, spend the day shopping, dining, listening to live music, and fly back in the evening or the next day. It makes a great mini vacation at little cost. But there is much, much more to this story.
Scheduled services to Nashville by Contour Airlines.
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Cape Girardeau. The airport is used for general aviation and has scheduled service by Contour Airlines with subsidized Essential Air Service program flights to Nashville. The Integrated Airport Systems is a commercial service category of 2,500 plus enplanements per year.
...get to Nashville and the world beyond—so cheap it would only cost you $25-$48 and 26 minutes.
This 573Magazine.com Story is sponsored by The City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
That’s cool because you can travel the world with connecting flights from Nashville without having to drive into St. Louis and pay to park—you see, my 573 friends, parking is free when you fly out of Cape. In St. Louis, drive-up parking is 24 dollars per day unless you want to load your luggage off on a shuttle bus and get dropped off in some empty parking lot waiting to get picked up. I hate that. So that means the path of least resistance at STL for a nine-day vacation will cost you 216 bucks...just to park...and as a super great bonus, your car is left to its own accord where literally anything can happen from door dings to missing tires to Gone, Baby Gone. No Thanks.
We decided to get with the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Director, Katrina Amos, to find out what makes flying out of Cape such a good idea. When we reached the airport for the interview with Katrina, we got a chance to watch both boarding and unboarding—WOW. The people showed up, went through security, and boarded the flight; we are talking minutes, not hours. Everything was clean, professional, and secure. There is even a large restaurant with tons of seating if you get there early. We chose to chill on one of the big leather sofas in the waiting area.
...chill on one of the big leather sofas in the waiting area.
The Pilot House Restaruant and Bar is a great place to grab a snack or try their world famous "Rusty Nail" - a pickle inside a Stag beer. .
Meet Katrina Amos
My name is Katrina Amos. I have been an employee with the City of Cape Girardeau since 2005 and with the airport since 2008 and then became airport manager in February 2020. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Purdue University. I serve on the following boards and committees: Old Town Cape Board of Directors, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Vice Chair, Missouri State Aviation Council Missouri Airport Manager’s Association as a Member, and the American Association of Airport Executives as a Certified Member.
My husband, Leroy Atkins, Sr., and I have been married for 20 years and have three wonderful children, Destiny (21), Leroy Jr. (19), and Levi (10). I recently became a grandmother to a beautiful granddaughter, Mailani Rose. In my spare time, I like to travel, make jewelry, and enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors.
The pilots lounge and rest area is equipped with all possibile comforts and information.
The Cape Airport is vital to tourism because we are one of nine commercial service airports in Missouri and the only commercial service airport in Southeast Missouri. We are a regional asset providing business and leisure access to Nashville and beyond. Our airport is well positioned within the middle of the country to be utilized by corporate and military traffic daily. We also serve as an emergency staging area in the event of a natural disaster. We provide services to the aviation community and support our military in any way possible. We are now a hub for flight instruction as well, offering multiple options for those interested in pursuing a career in aviation or recreation.
"...a hub for flight instruction as well, offering multiple options for those interested in pursuing a career in aviation or recreation."
"We provide services to the aviation community and support our military in any way possible."
Large hangers for private storage and easy access.
You can even learn to fly a helocopter. WOW!
Contour Airlines is an excellent fit for our region because it offers regional jet service to a medium hub airport, which connects us virtually anywhere in the country and in some international locations.
Using Nashville as your hub for vacation destinations makes a lot of sense and a lot less stress.
We are lucky to have a company like Contour, which is looking to be a community and regional partner to ensure we have the best commercial air service possible. I hope that people living in southeast Missouri will allow them to earn their business. Using Nashville as your hub for vacation destinations makes a lot of sense and a lot less stress.
It was a wonderful afternoon spent with Katrina. We love people who have a great passion for what they do. She and the other people at the airport have great passion and professionalism—high-flying applause for Katrina and Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.
Now, Get Up There!
Words and Pics T. Smugala -Supreme Leader of creative at 573 Magazine.
Special thanks to Maria Swan Childress at Bold Marketing and to Brenda Newburn and the Gang at VisitCape.com
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