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Leland Burch, Editor Emeritus Jackson told the GSP Commission on Monday that the airlines anticipate a slowdown during early 2008. Jackson said that Delta Air Lines is sidelining its main line aircraft through the first quarter and will use smaller regional jets on flights from GSP to Atlanta.
“Delta expects to bring back the large jets in April, but right now the economy is not looking very strong.”
The airport experienced a decline in passenger traffic for the first time in months in December. Travel was down 3.7 percent for the month, “but we had an increase of 1.7 percent for the year,” Jackson said.
The airport served 125,981 passengers last month compared to 130,748 in December 2008. GSP hosted 1.55 million passengers for the past year, up from 1.53 million in 2006.
shipments were down 15 percent with 2,719 tons last month, compared with 3,234 tons in December, 2006. Cargo was up 5.3 percent overall for the year with 28,283 tons compared with 26,853 tons in 2006.
Jackson said cargo and passenger figures for December at other regional airports are not yet available, “so we don’t know if this is the trend everywhere.”
Initiatives are continuing to make the airport more user-friendly.
Commissioners decided to award a monthly prize to create a competition among airlines for improving the average length of time to deliver baggage to passengers.
Jackson reported that the December average was 13 minutes, down from 10 minutes in November.
The most recent customer service survey found that travelers are pleased with the airport’s appearance and food services. “But the cost of air fares is an ongoing concern,” Jackson said.
Deputy Director Larry Holcombe reported that the airport will refurbish restrooms on both concourses this spring. Bids will go out in February.
The terminal complex will be reroofed later in the year. “It was built in 1989 and is beginning to develop leaks,” Holcombe said.
In 2009, the airport will resurface the runway and taxiways. “It was last resurfaced in 1994, and we have done a lot of repair work in recent years to keep it maintained,”,Holcombe said. Engineers estimate that the project with cost about $9 million, of which the FAA will fund 90 percent.
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