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2004 Tops 2003 to be BEST YEAR for Air Travel at Mid-Continent Airport
Date: January 13, 2005
Contact: Tom Nolan, Iterim Director of Airports
 : TNolan@wichita.gov
 : (316) 946-4700
While 2003 set passenger numbers at an all-time record for Mid-Continent Airport, 2004 broke that record to have the most passengers that flew Wichita Mid-Continent Airport than any other year in the airport’s history.
"I am elated to hear that Mid-Continent Airport broke last year’s record because our air service continues to improve making travel more convenient and less expensive than ever before," said Mayor Carlos Mayans. "Air service is one of the most important economic development efforts the City of Wichita has taken on and I am very pleased that the results have been so positive not only for Wichita, but the entire State of Kansas," he said.
"2004 serves as a testimony to passenger potential of this region," said Interim Director of Airports Tom Nolan. "This is even more impressive given the fragile state of the airline industry," he said.
Wichita Mid-Continent Airport set a yearly passenger traffic record with 1,498,749 total passengers in 2004, an increase of 5% over 2003. The record set last year was 1,431,610 passengers which surpassed the record set in 1996 when passenger traffic was 1,427,542.
Expanded service, lower fares, and a growing economy have contributed to the increase in air travel from Wichita. City leaders, through funding support, and the business community with Fair Fares are credited with having influenced this growth over the last two years. Travelers presently have 13 non-stop destinations out of Wichita on 46 daily flights.
While passenger traffic has continued to rise since the inception of Fair Fares two years ago, ticket prices have steadily fallen. The average one-way fare out of Mid-Continent Airport in 2003 (most recent yearly comparison date available) was $137, compared with $182 in 2002 and $216 in 2001. In total, conservative estimates state that passengers have saved over $200 million on airfares since low-cost airlines AirTran Airways and Allegiant Air entered the market.
Passenger Volume at a Glance:
- 2004: 1,498,749 passengers
- 2003: 1,431,610 passengers
- 2002: 1,337,270 passengers
- 2001: 1,129,381 passengers
- 1996: 1,427,542 passengers (previous record until 2003)
For full details of activity reports and the history from year to year, go to www.flywichita.com and click on "Statistics."
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