Some business experts see troubling time ahead for the nation's smaller regional airports, including those along the Central Coast.
A number of local airports are struggling to keep direct service to major hubs in California and beyond, including Santa Barbara (SBA), Bakersfield (BFL) and Monterey Regional (MRY).
In the midst of this, the San Luis Obispo (SBP) Airport is working against the trend, trying to add direct service to both Denver (DEN) and Seattle (SEA).
Available direct flights into and out of a small city have a direct connection to the area's business climate, according to Mike Manchak, President and CEO of the Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC).