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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - It may take some doing, but Atlantic City International Airport operators are hoping for a record year in the number of passengers using the facility.

Based on statistics through August, the airport still needs almost 554,000 more passengers to pass through the facility through the end of the year to meet the 2007 record of almost 1.2 million travelers.

However, the statistics provided by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, or SJTA, which runs the airport, show new destinations offered by Spirit Airlines and AirTran Airways in May and June, and some new marketing ventures, are causing monthly passenger hikes.

For instance, the percentage of airport users increased by 3.3 percent in June, 8.9 percent in July, and 15.7 percent in August. There were more than 21,000 more travelers in that period than the same period in 2008.

SJTA officials said they look for continued passenger hikes when Canadian-based WestJet begins new service from the airport next month.

Spirit Airlines, which was Atlantic City International's lone major carrier for years, began service to Boston on May 1.

AirTran began service to Atlanta on June 11. It also added limited service to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the same month.

The AirTran service was considered crucial, as the Atlanta destination provides travelers with significant connections to domestic and international flights.

WestJet begins service to Toronto on Oct. 22. Toronto will serve as a hub to access to other Canadian cities.

WestJet's service is also seasonal, and will run from Oct. 22 through May.

However, on Tuesday, SJTA commissioners approved a full one-year lease agreement with WestJet for space at Atlantic City International. SJTA officials believe that's an indication that WestJet's seasonal service will become year-long service.

E-mail Thomas Barlas:

TBarlas@pressofac.com

2 comments:

• PennsylvaniaSucks (109) posts 6:33 pm

  That's awesome to hear that the airport is progressing. It would be awesome to see more airlines use it... so that we wouldn't have to use the dump in Filthydelphia.

• UncleFrank (232) posts 5:39 pm

  When will Spirit ever start service to Chicago? They keep talking about it, but no action.

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