The airport is seeing positive figures as the summer travel season kicks into full swing, and one Glynn County Airport commissioner thinks the spike could mean the airport is ready for a larger aircraft to shuttle passengers to and from the Delta hub in Atlanta.
Retired Delta pilot and commission secretary-treasurer Bill Houseman said he has been following the ridership numbers closely and told the commission he’s been very impressed by what he has seen.
The airport is currently operating at an 80 percent load factor for its daily flights and saw a total of 3,238 passengers for the month of May.
The regional jet currently in service accommodates 50 passengers. It offers three trips daily to Atlanta except on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Pilot shortages have cut the three days down to two flights per day.
Houseman feels the growth is likely to continue and says a larger aircraft may be a wise decision. The next step up is a 65 passenger plane followed by a 72-seat aircraft.
“We’re growing. I think we’re pushing to where we can get a larger jet,” he said. “Of course, that would be Delta’s decision. It’s not our call to make.”
Robert Burr, executive director of the airport, is equally encouraged by what he’s seen the past two months.
“The goal is around 70 percent (load) and we’ve been reaching over 80 percent the last two months. That’s been excellent and I think it’s indicative of the strength of market,” Burr said after the meeting.
“The airlines, nationally, are seeing very similar loads. They are doing well financially and it’s always great to have a partner that is doing well financially.”
That type of success usually means airlines are more receptive to expanding or adding service. Burr says that may well include bringing in a bigger airplane at some point.
“(Airlines) enhance service based on their ability to enhance service. Of course, the larger airplanes have a first class section, which is a desirable feature for a lot of our customers, and really operating the larger plane costs them about the same,” Burr said.
But Burr doesn’t anticipate big changes anytime soon.
“Delta has told us that they don’t plan to change the fleet for another five years,” he said.
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