Chattanooga Airport may set new passenger record

photo Glenn Lemons prepares for an incoming plane at the Chattanooga Airport.

BOARDING HISTORYTop five years for passenger boardings at Chattanooga Airport:• 1. 1993: 311,204• 2. 1987: 311,139• 3. 2009: 310,414• 4. 2013: 309,235• 5. 2007: 307,500Source: Chattanooga Airport

Chattanooga Airport, riding a strong tailwind of business travel, is on course to set a new all-time record for annual passenger boardings that has stood for more than two decades, officials said Monday.

"Travelers from the region have a choice," said Airport Authority Chairman Dan Jacobson. "We're gratified they continue to use us."

Airport boardings jumped 18.53 percent in July over the same month last year to 31,893 passengers, fueled by increases in the month from all the major airlines flying from Lovell Field, said Terry Hart, the airport's chief executive.

Through the first seven months, boardings are up 14.64 percent to 197,505 passengers.

Barring an unforeseen event negatively affecting air travel, the annual number is expected to top the record set in 1993 of 311,204, Hart said. Last year, the airport came close, settling in at 309,235, figures show.

Hart cited more business travel from the airport, noting that the majority of airline passengers who use Lovell Field are business people.

"It's economic development in the community," he said.

Hart said Delta Air Lines, the airport's biggest carrier, and its affiliated airlines hauled about 19 percent more passengers in July than a year ago.

He said Delta has begun offering mainline service again from Chattanooga to Atlanta, using larger aircraft than the regional jets which are often flown. Hart said Delta is flying two 717 aircraft, which each carry about 100 seats, into Chattanooga along with an MD-88, which can typically carry about 149 passengers.

He said Delta hasn't cut the frequency of flights from Chattanooga to Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, which stand at nine.

Phil Downer of Signal Mountain said he's using Chattanooga Airport again after driving to Atlanta to fly for 17 years, mentioning the reintroduction of the larger Delta aircraft.

"Now I'm back in Chattanooga," he said, noting he travels 200 nights a year doing military training and Christian conferences.

Downer said airport service is now more dependable and comfortable.

"It has gotten my business back," he said. "It's one of the most significant things that has improved my professional life."

Hart said that cancelled and late flights from Delta and its affiliates this summer appear to be in line with those at other airports in the region which are similar in size to Chattanooga. He said there were four August cancellations in Chattanooga mostly due to weather.

"Our performance is no worse and somewhat better than other markets," Hart said.

Earlier this year, a local group upset over Delta service called Chattanoogans for Reliable Service expressed concerns about late and cancelled flights.

Chattanoogan Carlene Vital had cited the worries of fliers, saying that people from the area were bypassing Chattanooga Airport and flying from Atlanta, Nashville and Knoxville due to a lack of confidence in flight reliability at Lovell Field.

Delta agreed to share data on its performance levels at Lovell Field with local airport officials.

Larry S. Parks, president of Parks Construction Co. in Chattanooga, also cited worries about Delta's service. Parks noted he was one of "the very vocal travelers" in the 1990s expressing concerns when Delta pulled its mainline service.

"Why won't Delta return their smaller 'big' jets to what once was a Delta town, and get that loyalty back?" he asked earlier this year.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.

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