JWA flights continue holding pattern

-- Paul Clinton

Travelers continued returning to John Wayne Airport in December,

helping the airport’s ongoing recovery from the terrorist attacks on

Sept. 11.

Passenger counts were down 5.7% when compared with December 2000, but

that drop was far less compared with other recent months -- 33.2% for

September, 15.3% for October and 7.7% for November.

Arriving and departing commercial flights, from the 11 airlines using the facility, were off 6.6% from last year.

The airport’s financial picture is also markedly better than it was

three months ago.

Parking revenue has climbed back from its September low of 1.29

million to a December level of 1.56 million. For the last month of the

year, it is off 7.2% from the previous year. Concession gross receipts

for the month were not available.

The airport is also on track to spend about $9.4 million in additional

security in the year following the attacks. The airport spent $2.53

million from Sept. 11 to Dec. 31.