Direct-to-Dallas flights from Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport have boosted passenger numbers over the past five months for both American Eagle, which operates the flights, and for United Express, which doesn't.

United Express has benefited because it no longer has direct competition for its flights from Springfield to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

"It's been great, just excellent," airport executive director Mark Hanna said of the Dallas service.

American Eagle previously flew to O'Hare from Springfield, but dropped that service and began two daily Dallas-Fort Worth flights on April 5.

United Express, which continues to serve O'Hare from Springfield, added a fourth flight in June.

Hanna said American Eagle, which flies 50-passenger jets through a partnership with American Airlines, has posted double-digit increases in passenger numbers in four of the five months since the changeover, Hanna said.

'Very pleased'

"They're very pleased with the service and the passenger numbers so far," he said. Month-to-month comparison numbers for August show a 5.25 percent increase in outbound passengers and an 11.7 percent increase in inbound passengers.

"We've seen some uptick with United as well, since they don't have to go head-to-head anymore," Hanna said. "It's been a positive move for the airport all the way around, as well as for both airlines."

The Springfield airport received a $750,000 federal grant to subsidize the Dallas-Fort Worth flights if needed, and Hanna said it appears at least some of the funds will be used.

Targeted month-to-month revenue, not passenger numbers, determine whether the money is used.

"There hasn't been any grant money released yet, because we're waiting on some accounting from American Eagle, but it does appear they'll use some of their guaranteed money," he said. "It looks like they'll tap into it for each of the months so far." The most the airline can use from the grant is $100,000 a month, he said.

Hanna said that is to be expected.

"We all knew going in it would take some time for them to develop a base," he said. The airport continues to work with American Eagle on marketing and awareness efforts, particularly in some areas that don't have such service, such as the Decatur and Litchfield markets.

Hanna expects the upcoming holidays to boost passenger numbers even further.

Business travelers

When it began the service, American Eagle said 40 companies in the Springfield area have direct ties to Dallas-Fort Worth and north-central Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth also is a major hub for American Airlines.

Hanna said there's no way to tell what percentage of passengers are on business flights.

"I would guess there is about an even split or weighted slightly more toward business," he said. "But there are great connections to lots of popular leisure destinations, so it's probably real close."

Passenger traffic at the airport through the first eight months of the year increased by 9.6 percent. A total of 92,125 passengers were on Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport flights in the first eight months of this year, compared to 84,030 passengers during January through August 2010.

The Springfield airport is served by three airlines. United Express provides daily flights to Chicago O'Hare; American Eagle/American Airlines flies twice daily to Dallas-Fort Worth; and Direct Air has twice-weekly seasonal flights to Punta Gorda/Fort Myers, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Direct Air also started a new service to the Orlando and Tampa area via Lakeland, Fla., on June 24 with three weekly year-round  flights.

Chris Dettro can be reached at 788-1510.

American Eagle passenger numbers at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport

(Dallas-Fort Worth service began April 5, replacing flights to Chicago O'Hare)

Month                2011          2010             

January                     3,026          2,441    

February                     2,232           2,241  

March                 2,831           2,826

April                    3,731           3,080

May                      4,323          3,299

June                     4,165           3,271

July                       3,703          2,996

August                     3,508          3,233

Airport honored for financial reporting

The Springfield Airport Authority has received an award for excellence in financial reporting from a government finance officers' group for the eighth consecutive year.

The airport authority has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. 

"One of the Springfield Airport Authority's core values is to be enterprising," said Frank Vala, chairman of the authority. "Our CAFR underscores our commitment to have an entrepreneurial mindset that emphasizes innovation and financial efficiency."