As Phase 1A of the Airport Terminal Expansion Plan continues, members of the Durango-La Plata County Airport Commission discussed passenger leakage on Thursday.
Numbers from this year’s passenger leakage data indicates that around 50% of the area’s travelers fly out of Durango. The airport’s largest competitor is Albuquerque International Sunport, taking away roughly 34% of the airport’s potential passengers.
Tony Vicari, Durango-La Plata County Airport’s Aviation Director, indicated that this is likely due to lower airfares offered in Albuquerque because of more airline competition.
Currently, Durango-La Plata County Airport only offers service through American Airlines and United Airlines.
Vicari says this is among the reasons why the terminal expansion project is so important. With larger infrastructure, the airport can attract more interest from prospective airlines, which would saturate the airport’s airline market and lower airfare prices.
The commission is most concerned about families and those traveling for leisure because they are most likely to choose the economically safe option.
On average, Durango fares were $107 higher each way compared to Albuquerque and $133 higher each way than Denver.
Those who are traveling for business will normally take the most convenient option because flights are often paid for by their employer, Vicari said.
“Durango’s average fare rose over 40% from the prior year and that was still about 20% More than it was back pre-pandemic,” said Doug Blissit, project manager for consulting firm Mead & Hunt.
Nonetheless, passenger traffic is still up at Durango-La Plata County Airport. Overall, passenger traffic was up 15% in July compared to July 2022.
“There were very strong numbers across the board, both American and United were up 30% in terms of overall claimants,” Vicari said.
Additionally, load factors or passenger occupancy in July reached 90% for American Airlines and 84% for United Airlines.
“We’ve seen a little bit of a reduction in our loads for the first four to five months of the year but that has totally been corrected really since about May,” Vicari said.
He says this is mostly driven by added capacity by carriers, along with the cost of airfare.
The airport’s Phase 1A of the terminal expansion project is just weeks away from taking shape. The airport spent months laying the ground work for the new east wing.
“We have completed the conduit runs through the terminal. That's the pathway for future electrical fiber and columns. The footings and stem walls have been poured for the new gate and restroom areas and the utility layout,” said Brad Riddle, Airport Operations and Project Manager.
The east side of the airport serves United Airlines. Phase 1B will renovate the west wing, where a temporary tent structure has housed the American Airlines terminal the last 10 years.
The terminal upgrades will between 60 and 70 seats, thereby increasing the airport’s capacity to serve more flights.
The $7 million project has two sources of funding. Most of that funding comes from a $5.1 million federal grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. In 2021, a bipartisan bill was passed to fund the modernizing of airport infrastructure.
The airport chipped in $1.8 million from fee revenue. This includes fees paid by the airlines, leasing rental car space and parking.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
