Numbers are deceiving for Palmdale air traffic

Figures recently released by the City of Los Angeles Department of Airports show that March domestic travel from Palmdale Regional Airport was down 40.3% compared to March of 1994. March freight traffic in 1995 was 24.8% lower than March of 1994.

What looks better is an upswing in the most recent month-tomonth comparisons of air traffic in the Valley. There were 1,730 domestic passengers in March of 1995, up from 1,596 passengers the previous month. "We expect things to keep picking up around May," said Brandon Eaton, station manager for United Express. "We may have had some additional problems this past year with a particularly severe winter."

As late as February of 1994, there were two airlines - SkyWest and United Express - with 13 flights out of Palmdale Airport. In March 1995, there is only United Express, with six flights.

Palmdale Airport had recorded 5,188 flights with the two airlines operating in February of 1994. A month later, with only United Express around, the number fell to 2,896 in March of 1995.

Van Nuys Airport traffic, in comparison, was down 7.6% when March 1995 was compared to March of 1994. Ontario International Airport saw a slight increase of 0.9% when comparing March 1995 figures to March of 1994. Los Angeles International Airport reported an 8.1% increase in domestic travel when comparing March 1995 to 1994, with a 3.8% decrease in international traffic.

Except for a brief boom caused by the Northridge Earthquake, which slowed ground traffic to a crawl through collapsed freeways systems and increased air travel, the Palmdale Regional Airport has experienced declining numbers. In the 1994 fiscal year, the airport had $921,000 in revenue compared to $2.3 million in expenses. The loss was covered by income Palmdale Airport owner, the city of Los Angeles, made from its other airports.

When commenting on the operating deficit, Los Angeles City Department of Airports chief financial officer Jose Figueroa said: "Palmdale was purchased with the idea that it would serve Los Angeles sometime in the future, not today."

Eaton described United Express as a lean operation that will more easily survive slow months. "SkyWest had 14 employees, we have five," he said. "We do everything. Our counter people work the flights, load bags, do everything."