Average airline fares at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport decreased nearly 7% during the fourth quarter of 2007, the third biggest drop of the nation’s top 100 airports, according to a federal report.
Wichita bucked the national trend where average fares increased 4.0% during the same period to an average of $331, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported. The average Wichita fare for fourth quarter 2007 was $349, down from $373.75 in 2006.
Comparing average airline fares from 2000 to 2007, Wichita’s air fares fell 17%, the 12th largest decrease of the nation’s top 100 airports.
“The lower fares are a direct result of Frontier Airlines’ entry into this market, which has forced other airlines to lower fares on competing routes,” Valerie Wise, the Air Service Manager, said. “We are fortunate to have three low-cost carriers - AirTran Airways, Allegiant Air, and Frontier Airlines - keeping pressure on air fares.”
The lower air fares are also spurring extraordinary growth in passenger traffic, which has been on the upswing for more than 18 months.
“Higher traffic levels are putting quite a strain on our airport facilities, but the new passenger terminal should be operational by 2012, which will give us more breathing room,” said Victor White, Wichita’s Director of Airports.
The reported fares are based on the U.S. domestic itinerary fares. They include round-trip or one-way fares but not frequent flyer fares.
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