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Harrisburg International Airport Blames Airline Cuts for Passenger Declines

Posted on: Thursday, 1 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

By Dan Miller, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.

May 25--Passenger traffic keeps dropping at Harrisburg International Airport.

The number of travelers who used the airport fell nearly 18 percent in April when compared to April 2005, the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, which owns HIA, reported Wednesday.

In 2005, the number of passengers was down 6 percent from 2004. This year, the number has been down every month when compared to 2005. So far this year, the passenger count is down nearly 15 percent from 2005.

As in past months, the authority and HIA officials blame the decline on airlines that serve the airport reducing the number of seats available. The authority pointed to 71 percent of seats being filled on planes that used HIA in April 2006 as evidence that if the airlines make more seats available, more tickets could be sold.

HIA Aviation Director Fred Testa said financially strapped airlines are reducing seats at airports nationwide to drive up fares and absorb rising fuel costs. Airlines serving HIA had 22 percent fewer seats available to travelers in April when compared to April 2005.

On June 10, US Airways will resume Saturday nonstop service between HIA and Orlando, Fla. On July 2, Northwest Airlines will resume nonstop service between HIA and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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LCC, NWACQ,

Source: The Patriot-News

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