Springfield-Branson National Airport posted a strong start to spring, increasing passenger counts through April.
In April, total passengers at the airport were 69,303, a 4.5 percent boost compared to 66,295 in the same month last year. March also was up 0.8 percent to 72,192 from 71,561, according to a news release.
The latest figures bring SGF’s 2015 passenger count through April to 259,091, a 3.3 percent increase over 250,709 in the same period of 2014.
For the summer season, airport officials point to Allegiant Air (Nasdaq: ALGT) - one of four serving Springfield - as a standout, with plans to increase its schedule by 57 percent compared to last year.
“Allegiant is the real show stopper,” Director of Aviation Brian Weiler said in the release.
The airline will conduct 78 Springfield flights in June, up from 51 a year ago; 85 in July, up from 57; and 59 in August, up from 33.
“The increase in the Allegiant schedule will probably give the airport double-digit passenger growth in June, July and August,” said Kent Boyd, the airport’s marketing and air service development manager, in the release. “It’s a strong indicator of continued improvement in the regional and national economies.
“People wouldn’t be buying Allegiant’s vacation packages in numbers like this if their budgets were hurting.”
Airlines also are replacing several smaller flights this summer with larger planes. The changes include:
- In June, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will replace a 113-seat Boeing 717 with a 126-seat Airbus 319 for one of its four daily flights to Atlanta.
- United Airlines this month will replace a 50-seat jet with a 66-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 for one of its four daily flights to Chicago.
- In July, Delta will bring a 76-seat Bombardier CRJ-900 to the market to replace a 50-seat plane.
- United will replace another 50-seater to Chicago in July with a CRJ-700.
- Also in July, United will add another 50-seat jet to Chicago and begin using a CRJ-700 for one of its four daily flights to Denver.
- American Airlines Group Inc. (Nasdaq: AAL) in July will begin using CRJ-900s on two of its seven daily flights to Dallas.
- In August, United will replace a 50-seat jet to Denver with a CRJ-700.
“Here’s the bottom line: This summer, the airlines will shed a total of seven 50-seat jets from their Springfield schedules,” Boyd said in the release. “Many people hate 50-seat jets because they’re cramped and stuffy. The bigger planes are a welcome relief.”[[In-content Ad]]
