Springfield airport passenger volume keeps pace

Passenger volume at Springfield-Branson National Airport kept pace in October to stay barely ahead of last year’s count at this time.

In October, SGF recorded 66,827 passengers, pushing the year-to-date tally to 634,193 passengers, up 0.5 percent from 630,929 passengers through October 2012, according to the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Compared to last year, passenger volumes dipped slightly in September but had grown during each of the five preceding months. Activity peaked in July, when 74,753 people moved through the airport, up from 70,745 passengers the same month last year.

SGF finished 2012 with 752,214 passengers, an increase of 2.8 percent compared to 2011.

Also in the CVB’s monthly report, hotel room sales in the city were soft in September, the most recent month reported, but still ahead of last year’s volumes through nine months.

Hotel operators recorded $6.26 million in September room sales, moving the year-to-date figure above $65 million and 5.9 percent higher than the first three quarters of 2012.

The occupancy rate also rose in September to 57.2 percent. It has settled at 56 percent on the year, compared to 53 percent occupancy through September 2012.

Room supply was flat in September and for the year. At least two hotels are slated to open in the first half of 2014 – a Hampton Inn at Battlefield Road and Highway 65 and a TownePlace Suites by Marriott adjacent to Mercy Hospital Springfield – that will bring a couple hundred rooms on line.

September’s average daily room rate bumped up almost $2 to $72.12 and up to $71.31 year to date, within $1 from last year’s average daily rate at this time. Revenue per available room climbed comparatively higher: $41.27 per available room in September and $39.89 during the first three quarters, up about $2.50 per room from last year.