Airport passengers up in '07

Friday, January 18, 2008

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

Low-fare carrier, addition of flights boosted number

Huntsville International Airport didn't have a record number of passengers in 2007 but did post an increase over 2006.

The number of passengers reached 1,239,813 last year, a 7.5 percent increase over 2006, according to airport figures. In 2006, more than 1.15 million people flew into and out of the airport.

The airport was able to offer several new destinations, new airlines and low-fare service last year, said Barbie Peek, the airport's marketing director. "All of those had an influence on our traffic."

Low-fare carrier Allegiant Airlines started nonstop service to Las Vegas last year, then launched direct flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The carrier in December suspended the Las Vegas flights to Huntsville and several other cities, citing rising fuel costs.

Huntsville International had not had a low-fare airline since Independence Air, which started flights here in October 2004 but ended all of its operations in January 2006.

Delta Air Lines started weekday nonstop round-trip service between Huntsville and New York City's LaGuardia Airport in September.

United Airlines started direct flights to Denver International Airport in February and nonstop service to Washington Dulles International Airport in April.

A grass-roots marketing effort has begun to help promote Allegiant Air and the Delta nonstop flights to New York, Peek told the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority on Thursday.

Promotional material on those services has been provided to about 850 businesses so far, she said. Also, a coupon promotion with Steak-Out restaurants in Madison County started Jan. 11 in which Allegiant provides Steak-Out customers with $20 discount coupons for four weeks and a chance each week to win a family four-pack of airline tickets to Orlando or Fort Lauderdale. Peek said 60,000 coupons will be distributed.

The International Intermodal Center, which specializes in receiving, transferring and distributing international and domestic cargo, set a record for rail traffic last year with 45,486 rail lifts.

In other business, the authority voted to increase the budget for a new air cargo building at the Intermodal Center by $100,000. The budget for the project is now $7.6 million. The increased cost will pay for several design changes to the building and the addition of a 35-foot bay.

The building will be about 92,000 square feet. The contractor is Fite Construction Inc. in Decatur.



Airport passengers up in '07 Friday, January 18, 2008 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com Low-fare carrier, addition of flights boosted number Huntsville International Airport didn't have a record number of passengers in 2007 but did post an increase over 2006. The number of passengers reached 1,239,813 last year, a 7.5 percent increase over 2006, according to airport figures. In 2006, more than 1.15 million people flew into and out of the airport. The airport was able to offer several new destinations, new airlines and low-fare service last year, said Barbie Peek, the airport's marketing director. "All of those had an influence on our traffic." Low-fare carrier Allegiant Airlines started nonstop service to Las Vegas last year, then launched direct flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The carrier in December suspended the Las Vegas flights to Huntsville and several other cities, citing rising fuel costs. Huntsville International had not had a low-fare airline since Independence Air, which started flights here in October 2004 but ended all of its operations in January 2006. Delta Air Lines started weekday nonstop round-trip service between Huntsville and New York City's LaGuardia Airport in September. United Airlines started direct flights to Denver International Airport in February and nonstop service to Washington Dulles International Airport in April. A grass-roots marketing effort has begun to help promote Allegiant Air and the Delta nonstop flights to New York, Peek told the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority on Thursday. Promotional material on those services has been provided to about 850 businesses so far, she said. Also, a coupon promotion with Steak-Out restaurants in Madison County started Jan. 11 in which Allegiant provides Steak-Out customers with $20 discount coupons for four weeks and a chance each week to win a family four-pack of airline tickets to Orlando or Fort Lauderdale. Peek said 60,000 coupons will be distributed. The International Intermodal Center, which specializes in receiving, transferring and distributing international and domestic cargo, set a record for rail traffic last year with 45,486 rail lifts. In other business, the authority voted to increase the budget for a new air cargo building at the Intermodal Center by $100,000. The budget for the project is now $7.6 million. The increased cost will pay for several design changes to the building and the addition of a 35-foot bay. The building will be about 92,000 square feet. The contractor is Fite Construction Inc. in Decatur. © 2008 The Huntsville Times © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.