Airport passenger numbers soar The Port commissioner hopes the numbers will persuade Horizon Air to add a new flight.
By Vicki Hillhouse of the Union-Bulletin
Walla Walla's airline passenger numbers soared in 2006 to their highest level since before the 2001 terrorist attacks wounded air travel across the country.
The increase took place with fewer flights than were available at the Walla Walla Regional Airport five years ago, bolstering the Port of Walla Walla's contention that an additional Horizon Air flight can be supported in this market.
``Horizon has had a phenomenal year,'' said Jennifer Skoglund, assistant airport manager, at Thursday's Port meeting. ``We're (headed) in the right direction.''
Walla Walla had 28,260 airline passengers in 2006, a 14.4 percent increase from the 24,700 passengers in 2005, Skoglund said.
The numbers were aided by the addition of a daily flight from Montana-based Big Sky Airlines, though Port officials said the passenger contribution was not likely significant.
Big Sky launched its daily service to Boise in February with the help of a $250,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The grant has since run out. Big Sky officials said they needed a daily passenger load of about 10 people in order to continue the service. The average numbers have reportedly hovered around three or four passengers on average. Port officials say they're not yet certain what will happen with Big Sky.
Nevertheless, Port officials were encouraged by the 2006 numbers Thursday.
The figures are well below the 31,478 passengers recorded at the airport in 2000. But they are just under the 28,486 passengers in 2001, when the airport reportedly opened the year with five flights before decreasing to four flights after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
``We're doing this with the least amount of seats,'' said Port Commissioner Michael Fredrickson.
Fredrickson and other commissioners hope the numbers will per-
suade Horizon Air to add another flight. The regional carrier has three daily flights to Seattle.
Port officials have maintained they need the fourth flight for business and recreational travelers since 2004, when Horizon reduced its Walla Walla flights. Airline officials said the fourth flight had not been profitable for the company. They said Walla Walla needed to maintain a 65-70 percent passenger load in order to keep the three flights.
The year-end numbers on the three inbound flights from Seattle to Walla Walla range from an average of 64.66 percent load factor on the 10:10 a.m. flight to 84.52 percent on the 3:50 p.m. flight.
All of the outbound flights to Seattle have an average load factor of more than 70 percent. The 11:40 a.m. flight had the lowest average at 74.14 percent; the 4:55 p.m. flight averaged the most passengers with a 76.65 percent average load factor.
Port Executive Director Jim Kuntz said the planes have little capacity for passenger growth, considering weight and balance requirements on Horizon's Dash 8 Q-200 aircraft. Weight limitations, including luggage, have reduced the capacity on the 37-seat planes so that the aircraft only carry 34 or 35 passengers, Port officials said Thursday.
Port staff said vigilance in making sure that Horizon keeps its Walla Walla rates competitive with ticket costs at the Pasco Airport may have played a role in the increased numbers in 2006.
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