Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport drops 30 percent in October

Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport decreased 30 percent in October compared to October 2007, Volusia County spokeswoman Vickie Pleus said.

During October, 33,542 arrived and departed through Daytona Beach International Airport, compared with 48,049 in October 2007.

For the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 624,234 passengers traveled through the county-operated airport. This is an 11-percent decrease compared to the prior period when 699,893 passengers traveled through the airport.

According to airport officials, continued airport traffic decreases in 2008 have reflected an ongoing slowdown in commercial aviation activity throughout the United States. Loss of air service from Continental Airlines in September, combined with loss of low fare service from AirTran Airways in May, also has contributed to the decline in DBIA traffic in 2008.

Overall aircraft operations at DBIA increased 16 percent - to 340,628 - for the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, compared with the same period for the prior year. Aircraft operations include all landings and takeoffs at the airport. The majority of this activity is flight training.

For more information please contact Stephen J. Cooke, director of business development, at (386) 248-8030, ext. 8309. For current flight schedules, visit www.flydaytonafirst.com.