RDU Airport, NC – Though passenger traffic is still light, more than 90 percent of scheduled flights are departing RDU, minus those of now-defunct Midway Airlines, which had 115 departures from RDU in August.
The continued shutdown of Washington’s Reagan National Airport accounts for most of the flights that have not resumed since the airport reopened on September 13. Thus far, schedules at RDU are not reflecting a cutback proportional to the layoffs announced by some of the major air carriers.
“Every indication we have from the airlines is that bookings are picking up and there are few corporate travel restrictions that we know of,” said Teresa Damiano, marketing director.
RDU is beginning to receive October schedules from airlines, and the level of operations appears to be intact. Passenger traffic through the terminals is increasing daily. Use of RDU’s parking lots is a good indication of passenger traffic; as of late yesterday, 80 percent of spaces at Terminal C were full and 60 percent of spaces in the new Parking Garage 3.
America West, which was to have launched a flight from RDU to Phoenix in October, has deferred that decision until January.
Airport concessions have been affected by the slowdown in passenger demand but are prepared to ramp up when the demand returns. In Terminal C, concessions have reduced their hours of operation to conform to American Airlines’ hours: from 6 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Concession operators are reducing staff or staff hours until demand rises. Concessions still under development are being allowed to delay construction.
“We are not terminating concession development plans,” said Ingrid Hairston, business development officer. “We are suspending plans until our passenger base stabilizes. If the customer support is there, we will provide the services.”
The airport’s expansion plans are on hold while the airline industry recovers from last week’s terrorist attacks. Construction on Parking Deck 4 is in process and will continue to completion, anticipated in 2004.
Park and Ride lots 2 and 4 are temporarily closed until there is more demand. Passengers with cars parked in those lots will be able to remove them. Renovations being made to existing lots are expected to continue.
Concessions currently open for business:
Terminal C: A&W, Vie De France, A Southern Season, Connector Newsstand, WH Smith and Jersey Mike’s. The Cyber Café, a smoking bar now under construction, is scheduled to open in one week.
Terminal A: A Southern Season, the Carolina Food Court, Varsity Bar, Northend Bar, Jersey Mike’s Book Cellar, Paradies, the ACC Shop, RDU Press, Lee’s II Go and A&W.
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