Airport Releases Strong Financial Results:
More than 930,000 passengers flew through RDU in October, an increase of 154% over the same month last year and a decrease of 27% from October of 2019. It was the second busiest month for passenger traffic at RDU since the pandemic began, behind July of this year.
“It’s encouraging to see more people are ready to travel again as the Delta variant’s impact on air travel dwindles,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “As we head into the holidays, we expect the airport to be busier than usual with travelers flying to reunite with family and friends.”
The week of Oct. 18 – 24 was the busiest week RDU has experienced since the onset of COVID-19. The number of average daily departures was 175, up 86% over October of 2020 and down 24% from October 2019.
New Flights: Spirit Airlines expanded its offering at RDU this week when it launched new nonstop Miami service. A daily departure to the popular South Florida destination began Thursday, along with a new daily arrival from Miami to RDU.
Financial Strength: The Airport Authority released an update Thursday that shows a better-than-expected performance due to careful management of its finances during the pandemic. The Authority’s budget forecast called for 3.5 million passengers for calendar year 2021. The current projection for the year is 4.5 million passengers, a 29% increase over budget. Operating revenue from parking, rental cars and concessions exceeded the projected budget by nearly $16 million, or 30%. While these results are promising, the Authority’s net operating income is down $18 million compared to pre-COVID levels. Prudent management of its finances have allowed the Authority to restart capital projects that were put on hold in 2020 and resume building for the future.
Janitorial Contract: The Airport Authority Board approved a five-year, $42 million contract with Flagship Airport Services to provide janitorial and pest control services in the terminals and other airport facilities. The vendor also offers technology that will enhance service levels and customer satisfaction while providing a real-time feedback system. The new technology will augment the stringent cleaning and disinfecting practices RDU put in place at the onset of the pandemic. It includes passenger counters in restrooms that allow for timely deployment of resources; customer feedback systems using QR codes and comments on rdu.com and social media; automated floor scrubbers; and automated handrail cleaners.