John Wayne Sees Slower Holiday Travel
By CHRIS CZIBORR
The busy holiday travel season has been a lot less busy at John Wayne Airport amid tighter security and a slowdown in air travel.
The number of passengers flying through John Wayne in November was down 7.7% to 585,293, a decrease of 49,052 passengers from November 2000. December numbers aren’t in yet but stand to come in down from a year ago as well.
The airport’s number of flights also decreased in November, falling 2.9% to 6,681, or 198 less than a year ago.
Another big change at the airport in recent months is a heavy reduction in commuter flights by both United Express and Delta Connection’s Skywest. November showed a 60.6% drop to 490 such flights, vs. 1,243 flights during the same month last year.
Most airport security measures issued in September remain in place at John Wayne. Passengers can be dropped off at curbside, but vehicles can’t remain there and are expected to leave quickly.
All vehicles entering the parking structure, including valet parking, now are searched. The searches on average are taking “a few minutes,” according to John Wayne spokeswoman Ann McCarley.
“We’re asking people to arrive at least two hours before their flights,” McCarley said. “First thing in the morning is the busiest time to get through screening at checkpoints.”
Before Sept. 11, the airport had advised people to arrive at least one hour before scheduled flights.
“Now people have to allow more time to park their cars and get both their cars and bags searched,” McCarley said.
Cars parking at the Main Street offsite lot are not being searched, nor are cars that drop off passengers, McCarley said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has increased its number of officers at the airport since the terrorist attacks. The airport still has National Guard troops stationed at security screening checkpoints. They patrol the main terminal area and the curb roadway area, sometimes with dogs.
“We’re not sure how long the National Guard will remain,” McCarley said.
Curbside check-ins at John Wayne resumed in October.
Irving, Texas-based Globe Security handles security screening for checked and carry-on bags under contract from the airlines.
In another shift, McCarley said that a year ago Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays were the busiest days at the airport. Since Sept. 11, travelers have been favoring Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sunday mornings, she said.
