THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501210095
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Forecast '95
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Norfolk International Airport isn't likely to top 1994 for a long time.
``If you'd asked me at the end of 1993 if I expected a 30 percent increase in passenger traffic, I'd have said you're out of your mind,'' said Wayne E. Shank, the airport's deputy executive director.
But that's what the airport did. The airport reported a 30.2 percent increase in passenger traffic in 1994 compared to 1993. Nearly 3.42 million passengers travelled through the airport last year compared to 2.62 million the year before.
Shank summed the reason for the airport's growth in one word: ``Fares.''
The low fares introduced by Continental Lite in late 1993 and matched by USAir and other carriers prompted a lot of air travel last year.
``We hope to continue growing this year,'' Shank said, ``but we don't expect an increase of that magnitude.''
Indeed some carriers have been retrenching at the airport, scaling back service.
Continental eliminated some service to Boston, Baltimore and Florida because the routes weren't profitable. American Eagle, American Airlines' commuter carrier, stopped flying to Norfolk. It had offered six daily round-trip flights to Raleigh/Durham.
USAir Express, however, has stepped into the breach and will begin offering three daily flights between Norfolk and Raleigh-Durham.
All the growth has begun to strain the airport's infrastructure.
``If that growth is to continue we do have to re-examine the infrastructure,'' Shank said.
Two areas in particular demand attention, baggage handling and parking.
The baggage handling system was temporarily overwhelmed at peak times, so officials began preliminary studies to find ways to meet future demands, Shank said.
And while the parking is currently adequate, the airport is studying that as well.
A new snow equipment maintenance facility will be erected this year, Shank said. He expects the project, estimated to cost about $4 million, will be put out to bid by June.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR TRAVEL by CNB