Fort Smith sees enplanement growth in 2011
by January 6, 2012 10:49 am 59 views
Enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport during 2011 eked out a 0.12% gain over 2010, marking two consecutive years of enplanement growth at the airport.
The airport ended the year with a December that saw 7,240 enplanements, up 3.3% compared to December 2010. For the year, the airport posted 86,234 enplanements compared to 86,129 during 2010.
Enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport totaled 86,129 during 2010, up 9.81% over 2009 — an increase that ended two consecutive years of enplanement declines at the airport.
Enplanements in 2009 at the Fort Smith airport totaled 78,432, down 9.8% from the 87,030 enplanements in 2008. Passenger enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport totaled 87,030 in 2008, down 12.2% from the 99,127 enplanements in 2007. The 2009 traffic total was the lowest at the airport in the past 10 years.
“It was a traveling public that did that,” said Airport Director John Parker of the 2010 gain, adding that he is appreciative of those who fly out of Fort Smith.
Parker also said the airport’s December traffic was up despite national reports predicting holiday travel declines. The Air Transport Association predicted a 1% decline for U.S. traffic during the holidays.
“We should be very fortunate that (December increase) occurred in our particular locale,” Parker said.
The 2011 gain in enplanements also was courtesy of a more than 10% gain in traffic with Delta. The Atlanta-based carrier had 35,782 enplanements in Fort Smith during 2011, up compared to the 32,456 in 2010.
American Airlines (American Eagle) had 50,452 enplanements out of Fort Smith, down 6% compared to 53,673 in 2010.
Parker said 2012 will bring regional jet service for all seven flights at the airport. The four American flights are now served with two regional jets and two turboprop planes. Beginning late January, American will replace the two turboprop planes with regional jets. The three Delta flights now use regional jets, Parker said.
As for what 2012 will hold, Parker was unsure, saying the industry will likely reduce capacity (seats, planes and flights) to control costs — especially if fuel prices increase.
“The industry is constantly trying to gauge the proper amount of supply and demand,” Parker explained.
The most recent report (released Dec. 8) from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that U.S. airlines carried 480.5 million domestic passengers, up 1.8% from 2010 Internationally, they carried 71.3 million passengers, up 2.7% from 2010.
ARKANSAS TRAFFIC
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) saw its November traffic hit 45,589, down 3.9% compared to November 2010. (XNA had not posted December enplanements as of Jan. 6)
During the first 11 months of 2011 the airport reports 518,691 enplanements, down 1.08% compared to the 524,364 in the 2010 period. Traffic at the airport has fallen since June, when year-to-date traffic for the first half of the year was up almost 4% compared to the 2010 period. During 2010, XNA had 570,625 enplanements, up 5.49% over 2009.
October enplanements at the Little Rock National Airport totaled 97,074, down 1.26% compared to October 2010. During the first 10 months of 2011, enplanements totaled 917,269, down 2.62% compared to the 2010 period. (The airport did not have November or December data as of Jan. 6) In 2010, the airport had 1.129 million enplanements, down 3.8% compared to 2009, and down 5.3% from 2008.