JWA reports fewer flights

Passenger levels at John Wayne Airport were down more than 12%, and commercial carrier flight operations were down more than 11% from the same time last year.

Fewer flights have meant less noise for people who live under the John Wayne flight path, although it’s probably only a temporary reprieve, said Melinda Seely, president of the airport activist group AirFair.

“AirFair sees this as a lull, or the calm before the storm,” Seely said. “Once the economy gets back on its feet, I think it’s inevitable that the traffic at John Wayne will hike back up again.”

While airport officials expect traffic to pick up between today and Dec. 2, fewer people will probably be traveling during the holidays than last year, said Jenny Wedge, a spokeswoman for the airport.

Higher fuel prices earlier this year and a bad economic climate have translated into fewer air travelers, Wedge said.

The Hawaiian air carrier Aloha Airlines ended service from John Wayne on March 31 after the airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The carrier flew about five flights a day out of John Wayne, Wedge said.

“There were cost increases over the summer, and even less people traveled by air,” Wedge said. “We’re kind of experiencing the same thing the rest of the economy is.”

American Airlines ended nonstop service between Orange County and Austin, Texas, earlier this year, and Alaska Airlines dropped flights between John Wayne and Oakland in April.

Several air carriers are on a waiting list to begin service at John Wayne, Wedge said, including AirTran, WestJet, Virgin America and Horizon.

Air Canada, which is first in line on the waiting list, wants to begin international service to Canada from John Wayne, Wedge said.

John Wayne has no customs and border patrol operations, and Air Canada has not signed a formal agreement with the airport, but the air carrier’s planes passed noise tests at John Wayne earlier this year.

“It’s looking pretty promising for them to begin operations sometime next year,” Wedge said.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].