Capacity Cuts Reflected In Slight Drop In Numbers

Passenger traffic for calendar year 2008 at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) dropped a modest 2.4 percent compared to 2007 amidst major airline capacity cutbacks, according to preliminary data released this week by the Wayne County Airport Authority's (WCAA) Financial Planning & Analysis Division.

According to WCAA figures, a total of 35,135,828 passengers arrived at or departed from DTW last year -- 877,650 fewer than in 2007.

The decline in passenger traffic in 2008 is largely attributed to major cuts in airline capacity in the fourth quarter. For the month of December alone, passenger traffic dropped 6 percent from 2.82 million in December 2007 to 2.65 million in December 2008.

Total international passenger traffic dropped by less than one percent in 2008. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines plans to inaugurate new non-stop flights from Detroit to Rome, Italy, and Shanghai, China, this summer.

Aircraft landings and take-offs (operations) at the airport declined only 1 percent for the year at 462,700.

"Given that airlines are cutting capacity worldwide in response to global economic conditions, a drop in air traffic -- especially near the end of last year -- was to be expected," said WCAA CEO Lester Robinson. "That Detroit Metro fared well compared to many other airports in terms of lost passengers would indicate to us that our market is relatively strong and that we are well-positioned for growth when the economy turns around."

FMI: www.metroairport.com