Q-C Airport sets passenger record again

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Tuesday, May 20, 2008 |

Competitive airfares helped lift the Quad-City International Airport to its fourth consecutive passenger record this year, airport representatives said Tuesday.

According to the airport’s monthly statistics, April’s passenger traffic reached a new all-time high — surpassing a record set only a year ago. In April, the airport had 38,112 boarding passengers, or enplanements, and 39,544 deplaning passengers. The total passenger count of 77,656 beat the 2007 record by 2,049.

Bruce Carter, the airport’s aviation director, told the Rock Island County Metropolitan Airport Authority that traffic is up 4 percent for the year and “May is looking good.”

“Airfares have remained competitive and we are very pleased that the consumer continues to recognize our airport as easy and convenient,” he said.

Year-to-date, the airport has enplaned 157,228 passengers — a 4 percent increase. Deplanements and total passengers also are up 4 percent. As of the end of April, the airport’s passenger total for the year is 311,545. That compares with 300,077 at the same point a year ago.

Among the individual airlines, United Express led the way in April with 9,999 enplanements, an 11 percent decrease from last year. It was followed closely by Northwest Airlink, which reported 9,816 enplanements, a 4 percent increase from 2007, and AirTran Airways, which had 8,660 enplaned passengers, an increase of 38 percent from a year ago. Carter said AirTran’s numbers were bumped by having five days of service to Las Vegas before the flight was removed from the schedule as well as its successful Orlando, Fla., service.

Of the airport’s other two airlines, American Eagle reported 4,948 enplanements, an 11 percent decrease from last year, and Delta Connection reported 4,517 enplanements, a 5 percent increase.

Although rising fuel prices have caused AirTran to take away the Las Vegas service, AirTran and Delta Connection also have announced expansions that will begin in June. Delta Connection will add a fifth daily nonstop flight between the Moline airport and Atlanta beginning June 6. The flight will depart at 7:15 a.m.

AirTran Airways will add a fifth weekly Orlando nonstop flight on Tuesdays beginning June 10 and ending Aug. 12, to accommodate peak summer travel. The additional Tuesday flight arrives at 5:10 p.m., and departs at 5:40 p.m. It will not operate on June 24 or July 1.

“We also feel fortunate that we’re entering the summer without losing additional seats that other airports throughout the United States are struggling to keep,” Carter said.

Despite the loss of the Las Vegas service, Carter said the other flight additions have maintained the same number of seats in the Quad-City market.

2008 BY THE NUMBERS

Here’s a look at Quad-City International’s record-breaking year:

- January beat the previous passenger record set in 2007 by 1,558 total passengers. In January, the airport enplaned 37,194 passengers and deplaned 34,721 for a total of 71,915. Passenger numbers were up 2 percent to date.

- February beat the previous record set a year earlier by 3,779 total passengers. In February, the airport enplaned 37,170 passengers and deplaned 35,377 for 72,547 total passengers. Passengers were up 3 percent year to date.

- March set a new monthly record, passing the March 2007 by 4,082 total passengers. In March,the airport enplaned 44,752 passengers and deplaned 44,675 for 89,427 total passengers. Passengers were up 4 percent year-to-date.

- April set a new monthly record, beating April 2007 by 2,049 total passengers. In April, the airport enplaned 38,112 passengers and deplaned 39,544 for 77,656 total passengers. Year-to-date, passengers are up 4 percent.

Source: Quad-City International Airport

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.