Passenger Traffic at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport Ahead of Last Year's Record Pace

WICHITA, Kan., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- After setting a record for passenger traffic in 2007, Wichita Mid-Continent Airport reports that 2008 traffic is up 9.14% over last year's second quarter numbers. A total of 819,863 passengers have used Mid-Continent through June 2008, compared to 751,230 through June 2007. The month of June alone saw 154,124 passengers, an increase of 1.91% over June 2007.

"To see passenger growth at a time when many airports are seeing declines is certainly gratifying," said Valerie Wise, Air Service Manager. "However, we've had 21 consecutive months of increased passenger traffic, and given the current economic conditions, we expect to see the growth start to subside in the third quarter." Mid-Continent expects some reductions in flights this fall, but at this time will still have non-stop service to its 11 major hubs.

The growth in air travel demand is credited to the strong economy in South Central Kansas, and the addition of three low-cost carriers in recent years -- AirTran Airways, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines.

Mid-Continent serves 11 nonstop destinations on 13 airlines: AirTran Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, Chautauqua Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Continental Express, Frontier Express, Northwest Airlink, TransStates Airlines, United Airlines, United Express and US Airways Express.

For more air service information, visit our website at http://www.flywichita.com