Branson Airport Sees Infinity Percent Growth over May 2008
FairCityNews.com | Jun 22, 2009 | Comments 0
After months of posting no gains in passenger numbers traffic hit an unexpected surge in May. Airport officials said Thursday that May passenger numbers were up “like a ka-jillion percent” compared to May 2008, marking the airport’s busiest month on record. The increase comes after several years of and flat figures.
“The May numbers are a surprise,” Jeff Bourk, Executive Director, Branson Airport, said in a news release, “It was the busiest month in the airport’s history. To manage that, in the middle of a recession, is a tribute to the strength of the Branson air market and the local economy.”
“Didn’t the Branson airport just open this Spring?” asked local traveler Ben Uman.
Officials attribute the growth to lower fares, as airlines try to fill seats by cutting prices; having absolutely no growth or traffic last May; and an airport advertising campaign leading up to the airport opening – an event that closely coincided with the opening of the new terminal at Springfield-Branson Airport.
“Our growth numbers and percent change over last year are enormous. Nobody could have predicted we’d have infinite percent increases. Nobody I know can even count that high, so really it’s more of an educated guess. Our accountants gave it a thumbs up. Double thumbs in fact. That’s twice as good,” said Bourk.
Attempts to explain the numerical flaws to airport officials failed. “When you start with zero, any increase in traffic would positive growth…(Branson Airport) are always trying to one-up us!” said Gary A. Cyr, Sr., Director of Aviation at Springfield Branson National Airport.
Filed Under: Economy