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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Will the new county HHS building save the county money? Get Up & Go: Jan. 3 Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight Emergency services Sight for sore eyes Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight Emergency services VIDEO: Wrap Up, week of Jan. 2 Man on parole for robbery arrested after crashing stolen truck Car crashes into Medford yard New Year's Eve Politics and Elections Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change Education Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions Traveling artist sets the stage for Ruch School amphitheater Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU Environment Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams State News Oregon fans get married Rose Bowl parking lot Earthquake off coast shakes Humboldt County Stranded sea turtle recovers at Oregon aquarium Oregon minimum wage rises to $9.25 Storm brings snow, cold to West Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Dianne Sarvis Marri Young-Wellbaum Severta Shipley Death Notices Jeannine Gardiner Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? 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Jan. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 1 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 31 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 30 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 29 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Get the New Year off to a Great Start Hobart Bluff offers top-notch views Fishing report: Jan. 2, 2015 'Wild' about hiking Churches start new year with messages of hope Food Community blog: Ring in new flavors with year's last appetizers Food for Thought: Tips for cooking when you have food allergies Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Home and Garden Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? 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Ashland Ski Area about loan Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Generation Jones plays Paddy Brannan's Pete Herzog and Dennis Walker play 2Hawk Winery Paul Turnipseed Trio at Belle Fiore Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' Theater Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning Music Live Music in Local Clubs Generation Jones plays Paddy Brannan's Pete Herzog and Dennis Walker play 2Hawk Winery Paul Turnipseed Trio at Belle Fiore Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' Community Events New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dining Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight ... Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions ... 2014 set weather records in the Rogue Valley ... Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight ... Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions ... 2014 set weather records in the Rogue Valley ... TRANSPORTATION Back-to-back 66,000-plus months puts 2007 passenger record within sight Alaska Air handles nearly 57 percent of commercial traffic For just the fourth time on record, more than 66,000 travelers flew in and out of Medford airport Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 11, 2014 @ 2:20 pm By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 11, 2014 @ 2:20 pm » Social News For the second month in a row, more than 66,000 travelers passed through the gates at the Medford airport in August. Bolstered by Klamath Basin ticket holders, who lost local service last spring, the passenger count hit 66,083 — the fourth highest monthly count on record. The all-time record of 66,388 was set in July 2012. The hefty 5.8 percent year-over-year gain last month was the largest jump since a 7.15 percent gain in December 2012. Airport Director Bern Case had visions of a record-year dancing in his head after reviewing the numbers. "I was looking at 2007, our record year, and through August of that year we had 433,409 passengers," said Case, after working on several equations. "This year, through August, we're at 433,153; we're down by 256 passengers. That's a passenger per day and 10 pounds per flight based on the FAA's average passenger weight." While the 2007 record of 647,471 is firmly in Case's sights, surpassing that mark will take more than merely matching last year's pace. Matching the final four months of 2012 (214,732 passengers), however, would do the trick. "It could go either way," Case said. "But either way, it's a really good year." There are presently 18 daily departures from the Rogue Valley. Alaska Air accounted for nearly 57 percent of the commercial traffic, with 37,412 passengers aboard its Bombardier Q400 fleet. The Seattle-based airline saw a 13.3 percent year-over-year pickup. Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air saw a 3.2 percent year-over-year gain to 6,851 passengers, while United Express fell off 12.2 percent and Delta Connection declined 3.7 percent. "One of the complaints we always hear is that United fares are too high," Case said. "Their numbers are down a bit, but they're still profitable here. Based on the yield, I don't think there is a danger of them pulling out. It may not be appealing to passengers, but their fares more than compensates for a 12 percent loss, which means they're solid in the market." Along with higher fares, San Francisco International Airport is known for lengthy weather delays. "Going through San Francisco is so iffy," Case said. "But I'm glad we have it (as a destination), because the connections are fantastic. With one change you can go just about anywhere in the world." Combined with General Aviation flights, including the air tankers fighting regional wildfires, the airport had its busiest month since July 2012, with a total of 4,933 takeoffs and landings. "Those tankers are paying commercial landing fees," Case said. "It's one of those things where I'd rather have operations down and not have forest fires, but it definitely has an impact on our fees." More operations makes it more likely fees will come down, he said. "Sometimes we're able to reduced our landing fees," Case said. "In lean years, we have to raise them." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge.   By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 11, 2014 @ 2:20 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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