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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - Atlantic City International Airport operators are optimistic that a record number of passengers will use the facility this year, based on response to new destinations offered by Spirit Airlines and AirTran Airways and service from Canada-based WestJet starting next month.

It's a big nut to crack.

Using statistics through August, the airport would need 553,894 more passengers during the final four months of the year to meet the 2007 record of 1,176,631travelers.

The statistics provided by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, or SJTA, which runs the airport, show 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 also credit some new marketing ventures with helping increase the number of passengers.

Spokeswoman Sharon Gordon said the projections have the agency thinking the 2007 record can be at least matched.

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

3 comments:

• UncleFrank (232) posts 1:17 pm

  Spirit keeps saying they plan to fly to Chicago, but we still have no idea when.

• PennsylvaniaSucks (109) posts 9:48 am

  I would love to see ACY grow bigger and busier! It surprises me that the "test period" for the Toronto area is happening in the winter months. Who travels to the Jersey Shore (or even Toronto) in the dead of winter?? Alot of Canadians spend their summer vacations in Wildwood every summer. I hope they extend the test period so that those people can take advantage.

• marlene (2) posts 9:09 am

  It is wonderful that Atlantic City airport has new carriers. BUT if they could get a flight several times a day to Philadelphia, it would benefit the people who live in this area a lot more than flying to Canada or Atlanta. When USAir flew to Philadelphia, you could connect to many different cities. I realize flying to Atlanta sort of does the same thing but it much more convenient to fly to Philadelphia from AC than fly to Atlanta. Several flights a day to Philadelphia would surely put the icing on the cake and make AC airport much better!!

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