Barrett Productions of Missoula leads group to study airfare disparity for Montana travelers

Montana might have more businesses and attract more entrepreneurs and large companies if the cost of flying in and out of the state were more wallet-friendly.

Anyone who travels to and from Montana is painfully aware that airline tickets here can cost as much as a few hundred dollars more than for travelers who fly in and out of other states, no matter the destination.

The issue is more than a matter of annoyance for Barrett Productions http://www.barrettproductions.com/ , a Missoula-based company that produces adventure, outdoors and sports television programming.

The company, which owner John Barrett sold to sporting life media giant InterMedia Outdoors, travels extensively to get footage and stories from around the world, spending about $650,000 a year in airfare.

Efforts to expand the 40-person Missoula office won’t be successful if the airfare issue isn’t addressed, Barrett said.

Several Missoula organizations and community leaders support Barrett’s effort and his request for state funding, including Missoula Mayor John Engen http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/directory.aspx?EID=36 and the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. http://www.maedc.org

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_9ee71fb2-0620-11df-9702-001cc4c002e0.html