Fort Smith enplanements down 53.5% in March, number of flights reduced

March enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport were down more than 50%, with Airport Director Michael Griffin estimating a more than $100,000 loss from airline fees and terminal revenue – with that number depending on how long the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Enplanements during March totaled 3,521, down 53.5% compared to the 7,574 in March 2019. During the first three months of the year, enplanements totaled 17,084, down 15.4% from the same period in 2019. Year-to-date American Airline enplanements out of Fort Smith total 12,266, down from 14,023 in the same period of 2019. Delta enplanements for the first three months are 4,818, down from 6,175 in the same period of 2019.

Before the COVID-19 crisis began, the airport was on track for a fifth-year of enplanement growth. Prior to March, enplanements totaled 13,563 in January and February, up 7.4% compared to the same period in 2019.

Griffin said the number of flights on the Fort Smith schedule has been reduced from six to three, but on some days there are fewer flights. For example, on Wednesday (April 8) American canceled all flight in and out of Fort Smith. Prior to the pandemic, American Airlines had five daily flights (M-F) out of Fort Smith and Delta had two daily flights.

The budget hit is not likely to result in layoffs or reduced services, Griffin said, because of recent good financial years. Airport revenue in 2019 was $2.985 million, up from $2.908 million in 2018 and $2.89 million in 2017.

“Thank goodness that we’ve had a few good years under our belt that we’re not going to have to lay off any staff,” he said.

He also said the Airport Commission waived airline fees for the next few months, and expects that if the airlines receive some form of government assistance, those fees will be paid back.

Griffin is optimistic that when the COVID-19 crisis ends, the region’s businesses and residents will be eager to get back in the air. He said 80% to 85% of the airport’s enplanements are business travelers.

“I think our businesses will be ready to get back to normal as soon as possible … and with the leisure travel, I think people are getting stir crazy enough that they are going to want to go somewhere,” Griffin said.

ENPLANEMENT HISTORY
2019 enplanements out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport – Arkansas’ third largest commercial field – totaled 95,670, up 5.7% from the 90,501 in 2018. December enplanements totaled 8,277, up 4.17% from the 7,945 in December 2018.

American traffic is responsible for all the gains at Fort Smith in 2019. The airline had 69,096 enplanements out of Fort Smith in 2019, up 10.1% compared with the airline’s 2018 traffic. Delta posted 26,574 enplanements, down from 27,763 in 2018.

Enplanements at the airport in 2019 were up for the fourth straight year. Following are the previous six years of enplanement totals.
2019: 95,670
2018: 90,501
2017: 89,582
2016: 87,488
2015: 86,704
2014: 92,869