"Southern California airports soar as more people fly"

Monday, February 7, 2005

Airports soar as more people fly
The San Bernardino (CA) Business Press


Local airports flew past records last year and recorded their highest
numbers since before 9-11.

Ontario International Airport served 400,00 more passengers in 2004 than in
2003. That's an increase of about 6 percent

"Historically, Ontario Airport has averaged passenger increases of about 3
percent a year, so the 2004 increase of 6 percent is excellent," Airport
Manager Jens Rivera said.

More passengers at the airport generate additional airport revenue to offset
operating costs, Rivera said.

"Whether more businesses and airlines anchor at Ontario is really a function
of a healthy economy, continued growth of the Inland Empire area and airline
business decisions," she said.

"Cargo has been a bright spot for Ontario the past several years," Rivera
said. The airport handled more than 600,000 tons of cargo in 2004, a 5.8
percent increase over 34,000 tons in 2003.

The increases reflect the success of UPS and other cargo operators at
Ontario, Rivera said. 

UPS employs 4,000 people at its Ontario- based West Coast air hub. JetBlue
Airways added a second daily flight between John F. Kennedy International
Airport in New York and Ontario in December. That flight will begin in
spring.

"We hope to continue a healthy growth pattern with 2005 topping 2004,"
Rivera said.

Palm Springs International Airport passenger traffic increased 9.6 percent
to 1.37 million passengers compared with 1.25 million passengers in 2003.

The national average for airport growth was 4 percent last year. Palm
Springs airport has recovered from downturns caused by 9-11, according to an
airport release. 

Last year was the busiest in the airport's history.

March was Palm Springs' busiest month ever when 189,486 passengers arrived
and departed from the airport. 

Airlines operating at Palm Springs Airport increased total available seats
by 1.2 percent in December after Delta Connection added two daily departures
and 200 daily seats. 

Passenger traffic increased 6 percent in December compared with December
2003. Numbers were 3,000 lower than expected because of the storms that
drenched Southern California in December, an airport release said.

WestJet Airlines in Calgary, Alberta, Canada expanded its service to Palm
Springs. 

WestJet began operating twice-weekly nonstop service from Calgary to Palm
Springs Jan. 7. Demand for the service was so strong the airline added a
third weekly flight Feb. 5, according to a release.

WestJet extended two of its weekly nonstop flights at Palm Springs through
May 2. Initially, these flights were scheduled to end April 1.

"We are happy to announce an extension to the end date of two of our three
weekly nonstop flights form Calgary to Palm Springs," said Sean Durfy,
WestJet executive vice president, marketing and sales in a release. Palm
Springs International Airport is the only commercial passenger airport in
Riverside County. The airport is served by 14 airlines.

"The combination of a rapidly expanding permanent population base along with
a rebounding and strengthening tourism industry provides the airport with
significant inbound and outbound demand," City Manager David Ready said in a
release. "All indications are that the growth will continue and the airport
is preparing its facilities to accommodate increasing levels of activity."


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