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BWI logs 21 million passengers in ’07
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John Rodgers IV, 24, left, and Gary Thayer, 38, right, with the 16th Ordinance Battalion Charlie Company at Aberdeen Proving Ground, check the flight schedule at BWI as they wait to fly home. – Arianne Starnes/Examiner file
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport saw 21 million travelers pass through its doors last year.
The record-setting year of 21,044,384 commercial fliers represents an increase of 1.7 percent over 2006 and is a record for the airport.
The new numbers were released two days after data from the U.S. Department of Transportation showed BWI led all major U.S. airports in on-time arrival in December, with 74.15 percent of flights running on time. For the year, BWI led all major airports with an on-time arrival rate of 77.55 percent.
“BWI is generally recognized as a low-delay, low-cost airport,” airport spokesman Jonathan Dean said. “Airlines, particularly some of the low-cost carriers, certainly look to airports that are efficient, and BWI emphasizes efficiency.”
The record numbers could be tough to repeat. Dean said increasing fuel costs and general economic downturn would present challenges to carriers this year.
Southwest again dominated traffic at the airport, serving 11 million passengers and accounting for 52.5 percent of the airport’s market share. The airline added service to new markets including Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City.
Discount carrier AirTran Airways saw the largest growth of any carrier at BWI, carrying 2.5 million passengers, 16.7 percent more than in 2006. The airline added nonstop service to Portland, Maine, and seasonal service to four other cities.
“With fuel prices where they are right now, we’ll have to be careful about growth, but BWI has been a big success for us,” said John Kirby, senior director of planning for AirTran. “They recognize really what the goal is, to provide the best air service in the region.”
AirTran started service at BWI on Dec. 12, 2001, expanding to 20 daily departures in the following months. The carrier reached 48 daily departures last summer, and Kirby said he expected to crack 50 later this year. Kirby said the airline’s growth at BWI would likely include both additional flights to existing destinations and service to new cities.
“The continued growth at BWI Marshall reflects our overriding commitment to customer service,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a statement announcing the numbers. “BWI Marshall is the airport of choice for millions of passengers because of the excellent range of air service that our airline partners provide and the fact that Maryland’s premier airport is a world-class facility.”
acahall@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:12 AM MST on Fri., Aug. 22, 2008 re: "BWI is considering joining Registered Traveler program"
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8:33 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 7, 2008
re: "State Board approves $44 million shuttle contract for BWI airport"
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9:58 AM MST on Thu., Aug. 7, 2008
re: "State Board approves $44 million shuttle contract for BWI airport"
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6:18 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 21, 2008
re: "Southwest still seeking partner for international service at BWI"
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7:59 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 12, 2008
re: "BWI to offer pre-registered ID check service"
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5:34 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008
re: "Southwest still seeking partner for international service at BWI"
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12:17 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008
re: "Southwest still seeking partner for international service at BWI"
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10:18 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 8, 2008
re: "Southwest still seeking partner for international service at BWI"
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9:50 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 8, 2008
re: "Southwest still seeking partner for international service at BWI"
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Examiner Reader said:
When is BWI going to approve the program?
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Examiner Reader said:
Look for Martin Owe'Malley to cave in and pander to the blacks on this one, he always does. When Owe'Malley was Mayor he allowed the company that satisfactorly supplied light bulbs to the city for many years be replaced by another light bulb supplier, despite the fact that they charged more and could not fulfill the requirements of the contract. Guess what, the new company was black owned, and that was all that Owe'Mally cared about. In the end the city paid more for its light bulbs, the new minority owned supply company didnt meet the contract AND went out of business in short order. Martin will run this company out of BWI. When looking for a replacement will Owe'Malley search for a competent, financially sound firm that can best do the job at the best price for the tax payer? No, Owe'malley will only give it to a black owned company, whether it can do the job or not. Martin the panderer, it is what he always does.
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Examiner Reader said:
Here we go again. More quotas. Why is the state even spending money on a shuttle service?
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John J. Tormey III, Esq. said:
It’s now confirmed. According to a reliable source from a position high-up in the aviation community, one Robert Allan (“Bobby”) Sturgell recently verbally shared with at least two colleagues the following: (1) Sturgell has ALREADY given notice that he will be leaving his FAA post as Acting Administrator, by, or in, November 2008; and (2) Current FAA “Assistant Administrator For Regions And Center Operations” Ruth Leverenz will be “Acting” in Sturgell’s absence – (which quizzically therefore will make her the “Acting, Acting” Administrator!). This story was scooped by Quiet Rockland, and first broke Friday, July 18, 2008. As of the date and time of this publication, virtually no other news outlets or bloggers have picked it up - but they all eventually will. (Sure – Now!).
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Examiner Reader said:
So if I want to fork over $100+ I can get better service from Federal employees? I like this idea. Let's start a preferred taxpayer system that let's me next next day processing of my tax return.
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Examiner Reader said:
BWI, like the state of Maryland, is a backwater joke. The only reason why it has any economy is because of its proximity to DC, which it doesn't really even take advantage of, since most the state is run by Baltimore bueracrats. If Maryland were in the deep south, it would be behind Mississippi in everything. I should know, I'm from Maryland. I'm glad to be out of there. I don't even tell people I'm from there. I tell people I grew up in New Jersey.
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John J. Tormey III, Esq. said:
Quiet Rockland Urges America To REJECT Robert A. (“Bobby”) Sturgell As FAA Administrator In the lyrics of Dewey Bunnell of the group America, from the 1971 song “Sandman”: “All the planes have been – grounded”. It’s time to bring back America. The REAL America. The FAA is more broken than the cracked airplanes it purports to regulate. FAA Head “Bobby” Sturgell is a losing legacy case – the son of J. Edgar Hoover’s personal secretary, planted years later at the FAA, an agency that the powers-that-be assumed Sturgell could never screw up. Well, that failed legacy case named “Bobby” Sturgell DID screw it all up. Big time. The United States aviation system is now at flashpoint crisis. Enter, Sandman. Quiet Rockland opposes Robert A. “Bobby” Sturgell’s confirmation as FAA Administrator. Moreover, Quiet Rockland calls for “Bobby” Sturgell’s SUMMARY REMOVAL as Acting FAA Administrator.
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Examiner Reader said:
Southwest is an awesome airline. The more direct flights the better. international would be really cool if it happened. Dulles sucks.
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Examiner Reader said:
It's $600 Dulles - Heathrow return or $900 BWI - LHR with BA. So why choose BWI other than for convenience. Last time I flew from the international terminal there were no restaurants or bars to eat at pre-flight.
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