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Airport numbers strong through June By Tony Boom Jul 25, 2022 12:15 AM A A Traveler numbers at the Medford airport so far this year are only about 3.5% behind the record set in 2019 The Medford airport in the first six months of 2022 has seen 482,806 flyers, compared with 499,931 at the same point in 2019. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] At the halfway point in 2022, passenger numbers at the Medford airport are nearing the record set in 2019. Through June 30, 482,806 passengers had arrived or left from the Jackson County airport. That compares with 499,931 at the same point in 2019. Pinpointing reasons for the strong numbers locally is not easy, said airport Director Jerry Brienza. Nationally, air traffic is at about 82% of 2019 figures, he said. Pilot shortages have resulted in elimination of routes at many U.S. airports. “With the pandemic breaking, people are ready to go,” said Brienza. Medford’s relative isolation compared with other markets gives travelers fewer other viable options besides air travel, helping numbers, he said. “We lost flights to Portland, but we gained two new airlines that didn’t exist,” said Alan Bender, emeritus professor from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, who lives in Ashland. “Allegiant has added some destinations. United is putting on bigger planes. The bottom line is seats. We haven’t lost any seats.” Demand is strong despite increases in ticket prices of around 25% for domestic travel. “It’s basically supply and demand. People have been imprisoned in their houses ... and want to go places,” said Bender. “People want to travel irrespective of prices.” Monthly passenger counts this year were 1,000 to 2,000 flyers behind the 2019 figures for April, May and June. In March, they exceeded 2019 with 93,395 flyers compared to 91,721. January saw 13,249 fewer flyers than in 2019, when there were 71,264 passengers. January’s numbers may have been a reaction to the presence of the COVID-19 delta variant and airlines cutting back some while March may have been a reaction, with spring break perhaps adding travelers, said Brienza. Brienza said he thinks it’s unlikely the airport will set a new record this year. Airlines dropped some July fights due to pilot shortages, and their long-term schedules don’t show additions. In 2019, the airport saw 1,087,873 passengers. Seattle has replaced the Los Angeles area as the most popular destination for people flying from the Rogue Valley. The airport offers service to three LA airports. Many of the passengers to Seattle may be using it to reach other destinations, as it is a hub for both Alaska and Delta airlines. Brienza said he finds the lowest fares for cities in the eastern half of the country are available through Seattle. “Alaska is focused on Seattle rather than Portland. Alaska has to be competitive with Delta,” said Bender. The July airport schedule shows nine flights per day to Seattle. There are two daily flights to Los Angeles, but smaller carriers offer service one or two days per week. Despite Southwest Airlines now offering service out of Eugene, Bender said it didn’t appear to be drawing Rogue Valley residents to drive there to catch flights. Passengers have fewer flight options in Redding, California, North Bend and Klamath Falls, which may be bringing some passengers here, said Bender. Currently seven airlines fly to 13 different airports out of Medford. That will decrease in mid-September when Allegiant drops its seasonal flights to San Diego. July’s schedule shows 22 daily departures and 23 daily arrivals. There are additional flights by carriers with less frequency. June 2022 passenger numbers for United were nearly the same as 2019, with 34,531 this year. Alaska was down from 33,254 in June 2019 to 28,481 in June 2022. Allegiant showed an increase from 9,854 to 12,200 last month, while Delta declined from 19,774 to 17,773. American Eagle was down to 6,791 versus 7,149 in June 2019. Neither Avelo nor Aha existed in 2019. This June Avelo recorded 3,014 arrivals and departures with flights to Burbank. Aha had 421 with service to and from Reno. United is using Boeing 737 jets on flights to and from Denver to accommodate larger passenger loads rather than using smaller regional jets, said Brienza. By the end of the year, Alaska should have replaced all of the Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes with Embraer-175 jets that have 25 more seats. Before the pandemic, the airport was working to secure a destination farther east than Denver. “All the airlines we talked to said, with the pilot shortage, it will be at least one to two years without any new destination service,” said Brienza. Airport officials talk with airlines regularly, and he met with Alaska officials at their Seattle headquarters recently. Plans for expansion to general aviation facilities have been delayed because the Federal Aviation Administration hasn’t made funding available, said Brienza. The airport is proceeding with seal-coating runway surfaces and replacing halogen field lights with LEDs this year. Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at [email protected].