Lambert traffic takes off
By Tim McLaughlin
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/25/2005
Flights at Lambert Field boarded 14 percent more passengers in March than a year earlier, continuing a healthy trend of increased airline service amid cutthroat price competition.
The airport said Monday that 649,821 passengers boarded flights in March, up from 568,666 last March. The increase comes after passenger boardings hit a 20-year low last year.
American Airlines cut more than 200 daily flights in November 2003, rocking the community. Since then, its competitors have found spots in the market to add more service. American, still the airport's biggest operator, has added some flights, too.
Overall, several dozen flights have been added since the American cutbacks. Not all of those flights are daily departures or on full-sized commercial jets, though.
Nationwide, passenger boardings have been up, but not at the double-digit percentage increase seen in St. Louis. Airport officials are optimistic that more flights will be added as the year progresses.
The airport currently is providing information to low-cost carrier AirTran Airways of Orlando, Fla., in hopes of landing a handful of new flights. The airline is expected to make a decision early this summer.
For the first three months of the year, Lambert's traffic is up 12 percent with 1.64 million passengers boarding flights, the airport said.
Brian Kinsey, Lambert's business and marketing manager, said travelers and other airlines have adjusted to the shock of the American cutbacks.
"A lot of seats are being discounted for favorite markets," Kinsey said. "I think we'll continue to see a buildup in traffic."
Brutal competition in the airline industry has kept a lid on ticket prices. Major airlines such as American are losing money because their cost-cutting can't keep pace with surging fuel prices.
The major airlines have raised fares somewhat, but a glut of seats on the market has kept that activity in check.
Southwest Airlines, whose market share at Lambert is climbing toward 30 percent, is the exception. Earlier this month, Southwest reported its 56th consecutive quarterly profit.
The airline recently celebrated its 20th year in St. Louis. Southwest began service here with 17 daily departures to three cities. Today, it operates 63 daily nonstop departures to 21 cities.
Southwest maintains an unmatched cost base, which allows it to bludgeon rivals on price. In 1990, the average one-way fare paid in St. Louis for a Southwest flight was $149, the airline said.
But what's remarkable is that 15 years later, passengers here are paying less on Southwest flights.
In late 2004, the average one-way fare was $135, or 9.5 percent less than in 1990.
Southwest employs 250 people here, and the company says it pumped $64 million into the local economy last year in the form of salaries, benefits, fuel purchases and landing fees.
Southwest considers St. Louis a mature market as it deploys additional planes to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other cities instead.
"We're real comfortable with the traffic we're getting in St. Louis," Southwest spokeswoman Melanie Jones said. "Traffic in 2005 is up a healthy amount over 2004."
Taking off
After hitting a 20-year low in 2004, passenger boardings at Lambert Field continue to rebound. Here's a look at the first three months of 2005, compared with the same periods in 2004 and in 2003. American Airlines cut more than 200 daily flights in November 2003.
Year Passengers
2003 2.6 million
2004 1.46 million
2005 1.64 million
Source: Lambert Field officials
Reporter Tim McLaughlin
E-mail:
tmclaughlin@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8206
