Jan. 28--Charlottesville's airport loves to fly, and the numbers show it.
The Charlottesville Albemarle Airport had 464,037 passengers pass through the gates in 2012, exceeding 2011's passenger record of 406,373 by about 14 percent.
The airport has seen a steady increase in passenger volume since the 2009 fiscal year, when about 347,000 people passed through the airport.
Airport spokesman Jason Burch attributed the increase to four factors: competitive pricing, good connections, air service options and proximity to the community.
The airport is served by four carriers: American, Delta, United and U.S. Airways. Together, they offer nearly 136 outbound flights with about 6,800 seats each week, according to William Kehoe, chairman of the airport authority board.
Lynchburg Regional Airport is served by one carrier, U.S. Airways, with service only to Charlotte, N.C. Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave is served by two carriers. Roanoke Regional Airport is served by four airlines and Richmond International Airport is served by seven carriers.
"We can look at communities comparable to the size of Charlottesville and you're not going to see that level of service," Kehoe said. He pointed to Danville Regional Airport, which has two active runways and modern passenger facilities, as an example.
"From a pilot's view looking down, it's probably one of the nicest airports in the state of Virginia. "[But] the ticket counters are empty. They have no commercial service. There's no one there. ... Every one of us here, we're close to the airport and it's convenient and it's connected."
"With American Airlines adding new service to Chicago, many travelers who used to drive an hour or two away for the direct flight now fly locally," Burch said by email. "The connections that Chicago O'Hare offers bring additional passengers, as well. Delta has also invested millions in turning LaGuardia into a major domestic hub. This has provided us with an additional option for those trying to reach the Northeast."
In addition, Burch said Delta will soon upgrade its Charlottesville-to-New York service to a 65-seat jet with a first-class cabin.
Serving 500,000 passengers in a year is an achievement that's potentially within reach, although Burch said breaking that threshold will depend on several factors.
"There are no guarantees in the commercial air service industry," he said. "We have to adjust to what happens with airlines merging, the change in aircraft and an ever-shrinking network. However, we feel confident that the greater Charlottesville region is primed for air travel growth."
The airport recently completed an 800-foot extension to its formerly 6,000-foot-long runway to better enable fully loaded regional jets to take off during hot and humid summer weather. The airport also added a second security checkpoint to help process passengers faster during the morning rush.
Randy Burdette, executive director of the Virginia Department of Aviation, said the improvements at CHO reflect an ongoing statewide and nationwide trend to make flying more enjoyable and convenient. He said low prices alone aren't always enough to entice people to travel by air.
"What Charlottesville and some of the other airports are doing are trying to focus on a better experience," he said. "Some airports in the nation are just not fun to fly in."
Timothy Hulbert, president of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the 2012 numbers are another sign of economic improvement and stability in the area.
"All of the indices are headed in the right direction -- housing, employment, retail sales, a decrease in foreclosures. ... These numbers prove that this is a good place for airlines," Hulbert said.
Copyright 2013 - The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, Va.
