Airport Traffic Still Lagging Behind Last Year’s

For the seventh consecutive month, airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport declined in comparison to 1997 monthly totals, airport officials said Friday.

The passenger count for July, the most recent month for which data was available, was 685,044, a 1.2% decline compared to July 1997.

Airport officials attributed the decline on the fact that air traffic was at an unusually high level in 1997. The 1998 figures are still higher than 1996 figures for passenger flights, they point out.

Ticket prices at John Wayne Airport, which are often higher than some competitors’, may or may not contribute to the decline. The airport doesn’t keep figures on prices, said John Leyerle, manager of access and noise.

Airport statistics show a consistent drop in passenger traffic this year compared with 1997. Traffic dipped 4.2% in June; 0.3% in May; 4.4% in April; and 6.7% in March.

The decline has raised eyebrows among El Toro Airport opponents, who question whether a second airport is needed if John Wayne is not growing. Some El Toro foes argue that John Wayne would see a passenger surge if noise restrictions were eliminated, a move they say should reduce ticket prices.

But county officials scoffed at the notion. They say the strict noise restrictions don’t play a major role in ticket prices. They also argued that the decline is cyclical and does not reflect long-term demand for more air service out of Orange County.