Springfield-Branson airport passengers down 9% in June

The airport had 38,352 enplanements and 39,647 deplanements for a total of 77,999 passengers in June. That’s down from 85,354 in June 2007. For the year-to-date, passengers number 388,206, down 7 percent from 416,057 passengers at this time a year ago.

June’s results are slightly improved from April and May, which saw 13 percent and 16 percent decreases in passengers, respectively.

“The June numbers are an improvement, but they’re tempered by the fact that Allegiant Air had more Las Vegas flights in June as part of its seasonal surge strategy. That surge was over by July 1,” Director of Public Information and Marketing Kent Boyd said on the airport’s blog. “Bottom line: Our July numbers will likely be worse than our June numbers.”

Boyd last month told SBJ that recent passenger declines are due partly to weather-related cancellations this year, but mostly to rising fare costs, rather than cuts in capacity.