RIC to Give Nascar Fans a Break on Plane Fuel

RICHMOND, VA (March 28, 2013)

Richmond International Airport (RIC) is putting its money where its welcome for NASCAR is.

Teams and fans flying corporate and private aircraft into RIC for NASCAR race week April 22-28 will save six cents on every gallon of aviation fuel they buy for their planes — for about a one percent savings.

“Just a friendly gesture to NASCAR” said Troy Bell, RIC’s Director of Marketing and Air Service Development.

“The popular auto races are big business for the Richmond region,” said Jon E. Mathiasen, RIC’s President and CEO. “It means a lot to us. It brings us traffic.”

“We have a great partnership with the airport,” said Aimee Turner, Director of Communications for Richmond International Raceway (RIR). “They see the benefits of everyone who comes into town for our events — race teams, drivers, fans in general — and goes through the airport.”

Dozens of private and corporate planes fly into RIC for the NASCAR races, making them far and away the busiest times for general aviation at the airport.

“They’re parking aircraft on every available corner of asphalt or concrete out here,” said Bell. “The (aircraft parking) ramp space fills up nicely.”

Aircraft based at RIC also will be able to take advantage of the waived fee normally charged on aviation fuel sales, said Bell.

General aviation jets and turboprop airplanes can take aboard hundreds of gallons of fuel when they top off their tanks. Jet fuel sells for $5.51 to $5.98 a gallon at RIC.

“A lot of the public is unaware that the drivers have their own private planes, as do the sponsors of the race and the race teams,” said Jack Berry, president and CEO of the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (RMCVB).

The airport’s race-friendly attitude “just reinforces why drivers like RIC more than other race destinations,” Berry said.

Richmond International Airport (RIC) is one of the most modern, well-equipped airports in the eastern United States, with easy access from the highway to the jetway. Seven air carriers currently serve RIC offering nonstop flights to major domestic destinations and connecting service to points around the globe. More than three million passengers and 100 million pounds of cargo travel through RIC annually, utilizing more than 100,000 square feet of warehouse/office space and 1,000,000 square feet of ramp space. For more information, please visit www.flyrichmond.com.

For more information about flight support services available at RIC, please visit www.flyrichmond.com/index.php/general-aviation.

Note: Excerpts from this article were taken from a story written by Peter Bacque, from the March 27, 2013, edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. For the complete article, please visit the RTD website.  

Back