Passenger traffic fell 17 percent at Durango-La Plata County Airport in November from a year earlier as Frontier Airlines’ seasonal hiatus began to be felt.
Frontier, a Denver-based budget airline, ceased flying to Durango on Oct. 29. The airline has said it will resume the route in May.
“We’ve all, I think, had a little bit of concern with Frontier,” County Manager Joe Kerby said at an Airport Commission meeting last week.
American Airlines also had a lighter capacity in November after it suspended its second daily flight while it evaluated its schedule. American opted to keep the second flight and resumed it Nov. 21, airport Director of Aviation Kip Turner said.
Turner said enplanements remain up 3.8 percent compared with last year.
“I’d like to point to the positive in this,” he said. “We’re still up for the year.”
Turner added that load factors – the percentage of airplane seats that are filled – were near 80 percent.
In other airport news, Turner is pursuing a lease with Forethought.net, the Denver firm that purchased Brainstorm Internet in October.
The lease would allow for Forethought.net to install antennas at the airport.
Airport commissioners also discussed various ways to enhance terminal services. Durango city Councilor Sweetie Marbury, who volunteers at the airport, said arriving passengers often ask her where to find a cup of coffee.
“One of the first questions is, ‘Is there a Starbucks here?’” she said.
Airport commissioners also were told of a recent incident in which a disabled woman in a motorized wheelchair was unable to find transportation into Durango for several hours after flying into the airport.
The airport’s taxi contractor is not equipped to handle large wheelchairs, commissioners said.
Eventually, airport Commissioner John Nadolny persuaded DoubleTree Hotel to send its van to transport the woman.
Commissioners said the patchwork solution is inadequate.
“It’s really something that needs to be resolved,” Commissioner Tom Greenhut said.
Kerby said he would meet with Turner and Nadolny to further discuss transporting disabled passengers from the airport.
cslothower@durangoherald.com
