Springfield-Branson National Airport was the only major airport in the region to post growth in passenger numbers in 2009, according to Aviation Director Gary Cyr's State of the Airport presentation Thursday.
The airport's passenger numbers for the year totaled 811,771, up 4 percent from 2008. That growth came in spite of an 11 percent cut in flight schedules, similar to cuts at other airports across the country.
Michael Boyd of aviation analysis company The Boyd Group, said airports nationwide saw a 6 percent drop in passenger totals.
"Springfield’s growth clearly underscores a strong regional economy and laser-focused airport marketing," Boyd said in an airport news release. "For 2010, our independent forecasts indicate a 2.8 percent increase in Springfield passengers, compared to an estimated 3.2 percent decline for the nation as a whole.”
Cyr pointed to several factors for the increase, including: low fares; the new midfield terminal that opened in May and the resulting media and marketing attention; growth from Allegiant Air, which posted a 42 percent increase in Springfield passenger numbers; new competition from the privately owned Branson Airport; and the relative strength of the local economy compared to other parts of the country.
Cyr, however, was cautious about 2010.
"Our forecast is good for 2010, but our passenger numbers could go down,” Cyr said in the release. “The price of oil could spike. The apparent economic recovery could sputter. A terrorist attack could cause demand to plummet. It’s good news for now, but these are uncertain times.”
