Published on : Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The Eastern Iowa Airport showed a promising passenger count of over one million 1,042,291 by the end of 2013. This number is the second highest after 2007 where the records have been set to 2007 of 1,060,120.
The month of December brought the third record setting month of 2013 up 16.5% over last year. A total of 89,869 passengers used the airport in December exceeding the previous December record set in 2002 of 87,552.
The other record breaking months this year were March and February. March had a total of 99,664 passengers, topping the previous same-month record of 98,435 passengers in March 2000. February produced a record number of 79,359 passengers, eclipsing the previous same month record of 78,738 passengers in February 2006.
Airport Director Tim Bradshaw said, “This is a major accomplishment for The Eastern Iowa Airport and for the Corridor. The Airport is a gauge of the strength of the local economy, so being back up to pre-recession passenger numbers shows the strength and vibrancy of the Corridor.” Overall, the Airport saw a 6.2 percent increase in passenger traffic over last year.
Looking forward, the airport projects continued increases in passenger demand. The recently completed Master Plan forecasts 60 percent growth of passengers flying out of the airport over the next 20 years, to 731,000 annually. The average number of passengers per flight also is expected to grow as airlines phase out smaller aircraft and increase passenger loads.
To prepare for and accommodate this increase it is beginning a multi-year improvement project that will renovate the 27 year old terminal, expand the B Concourse to add additional Jet bridges, expand the security check point, and do much needed repairs on the parking lot.
Although owned by the city of Cedar Rapids, The Eastern Iowa Airport does not receive any property tax revenue. The airport derives its revenue from airline revenues, terminal concessions, ground and facility leases, landing fees, ramp fees and parking revenue and remains on track to be debt free in 2015.
Tags: Eastern Iowa Airport
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