As 2009 came to an end, RDU received good news from airlines. Despite continued reductions in flight schedules at airports across the country, some airlines are increasing service this spring at RDU.
On April 1, Midwest Airlines returns to RDU with daily nonstop flights to Milwaukee, while JetBlue adds two flights each day to Boston beginning May 1. With the additions, JetBlue will offer three daily nonstop flights to the popular business and leisure destination.
Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines will begin one daily nonstop flight to St. Louis on May 9. It will also add one daily flight each to Baltimore and Chicago effective the same day. |
Southwest Airlines will begin serving
St. Louis in May. |
The announcements are good news for the region's travelers. Beginning in 2008, airlines began reducing their schedules at airports across the country in response to high fuel costs and a weakening economy. RDU was not immune, and at the beginning of 2009, airport officials predicted that the number of passengers flying through RDU would decline by approximately 10 percent. In fact, the decline was 7.6 percent compared to 2008.
“Throughout the past two years, airlines have reduced the number of seats available to passengers in an effort to weather the changes taking place in the economy,” said Teresa Damiano, the Airport Authority’s director of marketing. “However, at RDU demand for air travel remained high. Airlines operating here reported that, on average, they were filling nearly 80 percent of their seats, illustrating that our region continues to travel by air.”
RDU ended 2010 with just under 200 daily departures. However, further seasonal reductions may take place throughout the winter months.
“Traditionally, airlines reduce their schedules during the winter months,” said Damiano. “But schedules typically return to pre-holiday levels by spring, just in time for spring break travel. And the addition of seven new flights is a good sign for our region's travelers.” |
