A tongue-in-cheek social media submit by a Florida airport has sparked panic it may very well be about to shut.
Tampa Worldwide Airport took to X to announce that it will be ‘cancelling’ all its flights ‘eternally’.
The submit got here following criticism from clients concerning the lack of locations provided by the airport.
‘We’ve heard sufficient. We’ve had sufficient,’ the submit started. ””You’re not an actual airport – you don’t have flights to my hometown of 13 folks!”‘ Effectively guess what? We’re not an airport in any respect.
‘Efficient instantly, we’re now not Tampa Worldwide Airport. As a substitute we’re providing you with precisely what you deserve. We’re now only a residence for an enormous 2-year-old flamingo.’
The enormous chicken is a big, 21-foot sculpture named Phoebe the Flamingo who looms over passengers in the principle terminal.
‘Whereas this will likely appear sudden, our determination is ultimate,’ the submit continued. ‘We can’t stand by and be referred to as “not an actual airport” once we provide flights to 100 locations around the globe. So, we’re cancelling all of them. Ceaselessly.’
The submit provides that you just ‘by no means understand what you’ve got till it’s gone’ and said: ‘Forevermore we’ll be identified simply as Large Flamingo House’.
Tampa Worldwide Airport sparked panic it may very well be about to shut after sharing a tongue-in-cheek submit on X
The airport claimed to be sick of complaints concerning the lack of locations it provides and joked it was cancelling all flights and rebranding to ‘Large Flamingo House’ in honor of the 21 foot Phoebe the Flamingo statue in the principle terminal
The PR stunt rapidly attracted consideration on-line the place many speculated it may very well be an April Idiot’s prank.
Nonetheless, various folks had been left genuinely involved and confused over the destiny of the airport.
‘Is that this actual? This looks like probably the most petty submit I’ve ever learn,’ one individual wrote on X.
‘I’m confused, I fly to Tampa yearly from Pittsburgh when headed to Clearwater. Is it closed?’ One other requested.
‘I don’t know what’s happening, however my spouse simply lectured me about flamingos, Lakeland, and a closing airport in Tampa,’ a 3rd individual wrote.
‘Does this have one thing to do with TDA privatization?’ one other speculated.
Tampa Worldwide Airport advertises itself because the ‘premier gateway to the West Coast of Florida’.
It serves round 25 million passengers every year, in accordance with its web site.
Amongst its self-proclaimed attributes are, ‘Brief strolling distances to gates, fast safety wait occasions, pleasant employees, trendy outlets and eating places and handy parking choices’.
It ranked second for big airports for passenger satisfaction in accordance with the J.D. Energy 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Research.
If the airport had been to shut, St. Pete-Clearwater Worldwide Airport (PIE), positioned roughly 14.6 miles away, could be vacationers subsequent closest choice for worldwide flights.
Tampa Airport has since clarified that the submit was made completely in jest.
‘The airport didn’t shut and isn’t closing— the purpose of the submit was to creatively spotlight our 100 nonstop locations and showcase our beloved public artwork program, with the massive flamingo (nicknamed “Phoebe” by the group) being one among its most iconic items,’ a spokeswoman mentioned.
‘Whereas a small handful of accounts could have misunderstood the humor, the overwhelming majority embraced it within the spirit it was meant.’
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Social media submit sparks concern {that a} main American metropolis’s airport will likely be closing
