Burbank airport’s passenger traffic continues to drop

Passenger traffic at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank dropped again in June, dragging down the year-to-date figures and continuing the downward trend that airport officials say they have planned for.

June’s passenger traffic was down 2.4%, compared with figures for the same period last year; the year-to-date figure is down more than 3%, airport records show.

Last year, the number of passengers fell to 4.6 million, the lowest in eight years, and down 13% from 5.3 million in 2008. Passenger volume peaked at more than 5.9 million in 2007.

Since that period, the airport has expected lower numbers, airport spokesman Victor Gill said.

Despite the drop, the number of passengers has remained higher than the number predicted in the budget, with almost 25,000 more customers than expected in June.

The load factor — or how many seats are filled on flights — has remained 60% to 70% in the last three years, according to a report to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority.

Parking revenue, a major budget factor for the airport authority, remains consistent with the returns set in 2009.

In the wake of a congressional appeal for a nighttime curfew on flights at the airport, officials are looking for a favorable outcome next week when the proposed Regional Intermodal Transportation Center goes to the Burbank City Council for a vote.

The council is looking for assurances that the transit center won’t morph into some other use for the airport beyond what’s outlined in the airport authority’s proposal, said Councilman Dave Golonski.

gretchen.meier@latimes.com