MBS Airport Touts Lower Fares, Urges Travelers to Fly Local

MBS International Airport Director says fares are now competitive with Detroit and Flint airports, offering full-service connectivity at reasonable prices.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 1:47pm

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MBS International Airport Director James Canders is encouraging travelers in the region to reconsider flying out of MBS, as the airport now offers competitive fares with mainline carriers that are often lower than driving to larger airports like Detroit or Flint. Canders cites MBS's partnership with Airport One to provide a fare-search booking engine on the airport's website as a key factor in driving down airfares and making the true cost of flying locally more transparent to passengers.

Why it matters

As a regional airport, MBS has historically struggled to compete with larger hubs like Detroit Metro and Flint Bishop Airport on airfares. However, this new pricing parity, combined with the convenience and lower overall costs of flying locally, could help MBS attract more passengers and maintain its financial stability in the long run.

The details

MBS has seen airfares drop in recent years, with round-trip fares on mainline carriers routinely averaging around $300 or less. This is due in part to a partnership with Airport One that placed a fare-search booking engine directly on the MBS website, allowing travelers to easily compare rates. While MBS can't match the ultra-low fares of budget airlines at other airports, it is now offering full-service connectivity at very reasonable price points. Canders also notes that when factoring in the costs of driving to and parking at larger airports, the overall cost of using MBS is often lower than flying out of Detroit or Flint.

  • MBS has been involved with video marketing since 2021.
  • The partnership with Airport One and the fare-search booking engine on the MBS website began several years ago.

The players

James Canders

The Director of MBS International Airport, who is leading the effort to promote the airport's competitive airfares and encourage more local travelers to fly from MBS.

Airport One

A regional airport-promoting company that partnered with MBS to place a fare-search booking engine on the airport's website, helping to drive down airfares and increase transparency for travelers.

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What they’re saying

“MBS fares will always fluctuate by destination and season, but the longstanding belief that MBS is always more expensive simply isn't accurate anymore. In fact, we're now at a point where I'm hearing more from passengers about lower fares out of MBS rather than higher ones.”

— James Canders, Director, MBS International Airport

“When those factors are accounted for, the overall cost of using a bigger airport frequently exceeds the price of flying from MBS, even in cases where the ticket alone may look slightly cheaper elsewhere.”

— James Canders, Director, MBS International Airport

What’s next

MBS plans to continue its advertising and air recruitment efforts to maintain passenger growth, strong airline load factors, and competitive service options, ensuring the airport's long-term financial stability.

The takeaway

MBS International Airport's efforts to lower airfares and increase transparency around the true cost of flying locally have made it a more competitive option for travelers in the region, potentially helping the regional airport attract more passengers and maintain its financial health in the face of competition from larger hubs like Detroit and Flint.