"Fewer passengers mean less revenue for Pennsylvania airport in July"

Friday, August 22, 2003

Fewer passengers mean less revenue for airport in July 
By Joe Sylvester
The Wilkes Barre (PA) Citizen's Voice

 
Fewer passengers flew out of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
last month than in July 2002, an airport official told the airport's board
Thursday.

That decrease contributed to a $55,414 net loss in revenues for the month,
said Wy A. Gowell, assistant airport director and business manager. He said
the airport showed a $22,975 profit in July 2002.

The latest figures led board member Robert C. Cordaro to question the
airport's recent $125,000 marketing campaign.

"I think this marketing thing was nothing but political cover," said
Cordaro, Lackawanna County minority commissioner. "It didn't do us any
good."

But Gowell said the numbers would have been down more if not for the
marketing campaign by SH&E of New York City.

According to airport figures, 16,568 passengers flew out of
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in July 2003, compared to 18,487
in July 2002, a decrease of about 10.3 percent.

Gowell said the whole industry was down 4.5 percent.

He said Harrisburg's airport saw a 4 percent decrease in passengers in July,
compared to July 2002; Philadelphia's passenger numbers for June were 8
percent less than in June 2002; and Pittsburgh's were down 7 percent this
June, compared to the previous June.

Airport Director Barry J. Centini blamed the economy for the local airport's
decrease.

"It's the loss of jobs, it's the type of people living in Northeastern
Pennsylvania," Centini said. "Do we have a lot of leisure travelers,
business travelers?"

But he added, "Things are going to bounce back."

Cordaro also recommended the airport include revenues from the Passenger
Facility Charge of $4.50 on each ticket with the income for each month.

Gowell agreed it was a good idea. The airport collected nearly $120,000 in
PFC revenues in July, which would erase the $55,414 for the month.

Gowell said the PFC revenues, placed in a trust fund for projects, had not
been counted as revenue in the past until spent.

In other business, the board approved an agreement with Tech Aviation
Services Inc. for Sept. 1, 2003, through July 31, 2013, with reviews and
possible negotiations every two years.

Under the agreement, Tech Aviation will continue to provide aircraft
fueling, general services, maintenance, parking and hangaring, flight
training, aircraft charter services, as well as general aviation, charter
and corporate aircrew and passenger terminal facilities.

Tech Aviation will pay $75,000 a year in facility rent, plus fuel sales
commissions, landing, parking and tie-down users fees, charter landing fees
and hangaring fees.


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