By Susan A. Baird
PBN Web Editor
WARWICK – Passenger traffic at T.F. Green International Airport dipped to its lowest level in four years last month, according to figures released today by the R.I. Airport Corporation. Freight and mail traffic also fell, RIAC said.
A total of 345,465 passengers passed through the airport last month. That was 2.6 percent fewer than the 354,641 in December and 2.1 percent fewer than in January 2007.
The number of passengers who boarded planes at T.F. Green in January was 176,863, RIAC said. That represented a decline of 0.2 percent compared with December and 1.2 percent compared with the first month of 2007.
Last month’s figures were well below the airport’s 2007 average of 418,278 passengers and 209,155 emplaned passengers per month. (READ MORE.)
Southwest Airlines remained No. 1 at T.F. Green last month with 187,903 passengers and a 54.4-percent market share. US Airways was No. 2, with 73,311 passengers or 21.2 percent, followed by United Airlines with 25,411 passengers or 7.4 percent; Delta Airlines with 19,570 or 5.7 percent; Continental at 16,063 or 4.7 percent; Northwest Airlines with 15,790 passengers or 4.6 percent; American Eagle with 6,179 or 1.8 percent; Air Canada with 742 or 0.2 percent; and charter planes with 496 passengers or 0.1 percent of the airport’s January total.
Total cargo shipments through T.F. Green in January declined 4.9 percent compared with a year ago, to 3.35 million pounds. Freight shipments fell 9.6 percent to 2.61 million pounds while mail shipments fell 16.8 percent to 737,866 pounds.
The declines, in the face of rising fuel costs that have spurred airlines to raise their fees, pose a challenge for Kevin A. Dillon, who on Jan. 15 was named the new airport airport director and RIAC president/CEO, replacing Mark P. Brewer, who resigned late last year. (READ MORE)
The R.I. Airport Corporation (RIAC) is a quasi-public organization, based at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, that oversees Green and the state’s five general aviation airports. Additional information is available at www.pvdairport.com.
