Passenger totals were up 1.7% year-to-year and 3% for the fourth quarter, while cargo totals year-to-year increased nearly 5% but were down just over 2% for the fourth quarter from the same period in 2013.
“The increased passenger numbers were from a mixture of new flights being added and more passengers on existing flights,” says Todd Woodard, director of marketing and public relations, Spokane International Airport.
He noted that seasonal flights to Chicago – Southwest Airlines daily to Midway and United on Saturdays to O’Hare – will start up again during June and July, while Alaska Airlines will re-enter the Spokane-to-Boise market beginning in late August.
“The model for air travel is so different than it was even 5 or 6 years ago,” says Woodard, “with airlines flying for profitability rather than market share. So the increases in passenger numbers are particularly significant as we seek to maximize options for Spokane-area travelers.”