"Despite Delta's problems, Cincinnati airport racking up a $3.3 million surplus"

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Despite Delta's problems, airport racking up a $3.3 million surplus 
The Cincinnati (OH) Post


Delta Airlines' possible bankruptcy might have airport officials on edge,
but the bottom line so far this year remains strong. 

Gary Bockelman, Kenton County Airport Board finance committee chairman,
reported the airport is running a $3.3 million surplus through September. 

That includes revenue that's $1.2 million over budget and expenses that are
$2.1 million under budget. 

Michael Gibbons, air service committee chairman, credited Delta's lower fare
schedule put in place in August. 

Delta calls the new pricing plan SimpliFares. Prices are capped at $499 one
way in economy or $599 one way in first class, within the 48 contiguous
United States, including walk-up fares. 

Other fares were also discounted. 

Gibbons said revenue from the parking garage and lots has increased since
the lower fares went into effect, and he expects the effect to be greater in
the coming months. 

Departures from the airport increased to 665 in September compared to 629 in
September 2003. 

The total number of passengers using the airport increased 6.7 percent from
September 2003 and are up 4.4 percent for the first nine months of the year.


A new analysis in Aviation Daily, a trade publication, indicates that
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport has a long way to go before it matches
its peak performance in terms of passengers who start or end their flights
at the airport -- known as origin and destination passengers. 

There were 5.06 million such passengers the fiscal year ended March 2000 but
only 4.09 million in the year ended March 2004 -- a 19.2 percent decrease. 

Delta and the airport hope SimpliFares helps reverse that trend. 

The airport, like nearly all U.S. airports, suffered a steep drop in
business after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

While the number of passengers has not fully rebounded, the number of
flights now exceeds the peak year of 2000, thanks to a steep increase in
Comair flights and other smaller, regional jet flights than the mainliners
that dominated travel in previous years.


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