Airport news

Airport traffic down in December and January

During December, 676,078 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), a decrease of 2.2 percent compared to December 2008. The traffic leader in December was AirTran with 124,542 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were JetBlue (93,660), Delta (82,970), Southwest (61,518) and Northwest (60,646).

Passenger traffic for 2009 was down 2.5 percent compared to 2008.

During January, 731,739 passengers traveled through RSW, a decrease of 0.1 percent compared to January 2009. The traffic leader in January was AirTran with 126,515 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were JetBlue (90,714), Northwest (84,487), Delta (80,743) and Southwest (72,279).

Hall elected chair of Lee County Board of Port Commissioners

Tammy Hall (r) has been elected the 2010 chairperson for the Lee County Board of Port Commissioners.

The Board of Port Commissioners is composed of the five Lee County commissioners and meets bi-monthly to set policy and direct the operations of RSW and Page Field General Aviation Airport in Fort Myers. The other port commissioners are Brian Bigelow, Ray Judah and Frank Mann.

Baggot appointed chair of Airports Special Management Committee

Dan Baggot (r) has been elected the chairperson of The Lee County Port Authority Airports Special Management Committee for 2010. Kevin Ostrowsky was elected vice chair. Other members of the committee include Joseph Burgess, Jeffrey Fridkin, Kitty Green, Rufus Lazzell and Fran Myers.

The committee advises the Lee County Board of Port Commissioners on policy matters pertaining to RSW and Page Field General Aviation Airport in Fort Myers. Each port commissioner appoints one committee member, who serves without compensation. The committee also includes two regional members who represent the interests of neighboring Collier and Charlotte counties.

Airlines offer additional flights through RSW

Frontier Airlines now is providing nonstop service to Denver from RSW year-round. Previously, nonstop service was only available in season. Flights from Denver arrive in Fort Myers at 4:26 p.m. and depart Fort Myers for Denver at 5:10 p.m. each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

In addition, USA3000 Airlines will resume nonstop service between Lambert-St. Louis, Mo. and RSW from May 27 to Aug. 15, and AirTran Airways will launch twice-weekly nonstops to Grand Rapids, Mich. starting June 12.

Airport PGA Tour Shop recognized by Gold World magazine

Golf World magazine named the PGA TOUR Shop, located in the RSW main terminal, one of the100 Best Golf Shops for 2009. The PGA TOUR Shop is operated by The Paradies Shops and features golf apparel and accessories, exclusive tournament merchandise, instructional videos, books, gifts and more.

J.D. Power ranks RSW near top of class

J.D. Power and Associates announced its 2010 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, with RSW ranking second in the small-airport class.

Airports were judged on six factors to gauge overall customer satisfaction: airport accessibility, baggage claim, check-in/baggage check process, terminal facilities, security check and retail services. RSW finished with a score of 767 out of 1,000, 10 points behind first-place winner Indianapolis International and 46 points higher than the small airport average score. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County and Kansas City International took home top honors in the large and medium airport classifications respectively.

Lee County Port Authority honors 16 with 2009 Phoenix Award

The Lee County Port Authority has recognized 16 individuals with a Phoenix Award, a nationally recognized honor given to rescuers for saving the life of an individual in full cardiac or respiratory arrest.

The first group of awards was given for a cardiac arrest inside the terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) on July 4, 2009. A team administered life-saving treatment that resulted in the patient being stabilized and transported to a local hospital. The patient recovered and was released. Nine people were honored for this effort, including an airline worker, an airport visitor and police and fire department employees.

The second group of awards was given for an incident that occurred on July 7, 2009 in the RSW air cargo building. An airport fire department team responded to an unconscious patient when the patient suddenly stopped breathing and went into respiratory arrest. The team administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation that enabled the patient to be transported to a local hospital, where he was eventually released. Seven airport fire department employees were presented with the Phoenix Award for the lifesaving effort.

For more information on airport news see the News section of RSW's Web site, www.flylcpa.com  or contact Victoria B. Moreland, public relations department director for the Lee County Port Authority, at (239) 590-4502.

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