PIT Airport December 2008 Passenger Traffic Report

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PASSENGER TRAFFIC REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2008

• NINE AIRLINES REPORT GROWTH, FOUR WITH GAINS GREATER THAN 10 PERCENT
• FIVE AIRLINES SHOW GROWTH OF MORE THAN 30 PERCENT SINCE 2002

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 30, 2009) – Nine airlines at Pittsburgh International Airport (www.FlyPittsburgh.com) reported an increase in passengers in 2008 compared to 2007 according to the scheduled airline traffic report issued by the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Of those nine airlines, four reported increases of more than 10 percent. Additionally, the year-end figures show that five airlines had at least 30 percent more passengers in 2008 than in 2002.

A total of 664,880 scheduled passengers were enplaned and deplaned at Pittsburgh International Airport in December 2008, which brings the yearly total to 8,673,014. That translates to an 11.4 percent drop in passenger traffic for 2008 from 2007 (8,673,014 in 2008/9,785,651 in 2007). Compared to December 2007, passenger traffic was down 5.0 percent for the month (664,880/699,625; 5.0 percent decrease).

For 2008, AirTran and Continental were the leaders in gains, with AirTran posting a remarkable 29.5 percent increase (527,349/407,196; 29.5 percent) and Continental had a 10.7 percent increase (553,619/500,303; 10.7 percent). Myrtle Beach Direct Air (27,686/21,415; 29.3 percent) and Air Canada (44,129/38,728; 13.9 percent) also reported increases of more than 10 percent.

Other airlines reporting gains for the year include Southwest (1,465,277/1,390,887; 5.3 percent), Delta (978,141/940,885; 4.0 percent), United (773,468/724,143; 6.8 percent), Northwest (510,663/499,575; 2.2 percent), and USA3000 (180,767/166,570; 8.5 percent).

Airlines reporting decreases in traffic for 2008 included US Airways (2,880,602/4,257,628; 32.3 percent), American (451,279/460,543; 2.0 percent); JetBlue (198,719/271,406; 26.8 percent); and Midwest (81,315/106,372; 23.6 percent).

“Pittsburgh International Airport has made a successful transition from a hub to an airport where passenger traffic originates and ends here and this report is a testimony to that. A look back at the statistics shows that five airlines had passenger levels 30 percent higher in 2008 than in 2002. Another important benefit is the lower fares offered today, currently $34 lower than the national average. Passengers in our region are taking advantage of the lower fares and quality air service to the top destinations,” said Bradley D. Penrod, Executive Director and CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

According to research by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, Continental (58.8 percent), United (53.3 percent), AirTran (49.8 percent), Delta (36.7 percent), Northwest (32.3 percent), and American (2.6 percent) have all increased passenger levels from 2002 to 2008.

December 2008 Scheduled Traffic at Pittsburgh International Airport

Airline Comparison between 2002 and 2008

For December 2008, six airlines showed an increase compared to December 2007. AirTran reported a 61.9 percent gain (58,024/35,841; 61.9 percent, Southwest was up 4.6 percent (114,976/109,870; 4.6 percent), United was up 0.4 percent (51,486/51,258; 0.4 percent), Continental grew 13.1 percent (44,483/39,316; 13.1 percent), Northwest increased 5.5 percent (39,299/37,256; 5.5 percent; and American reported a 13.6 percent growth (37,528/33,039).