Passengers at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport are starting to fly again. In May, 10,965 passengers flew out of ICT, a decrease of 87% from last May but a 193% improvement over April. April’s enplanements were just 3,738. Nationwide passenger volume, according to the TSA, was down 90% in May. At ICT, total passengers in May were 21,798 compared to 85,022 in May 2019. For the year, passenger traffic is down 48%.
May 2020 Total Passengers
AIRLINE | May 2020 | May 2019 | # Diff. | % Diff. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alaska | 1,216 | 4,145 | -2,929 | -71% |
Allegiant | 1,490 | 6,709 | -5,219 | -78% |
American | 8,923 | 43,716 | -34,793 | -80% |
Delta | 1,388 | 31,954 | -30,566 | -96% |
Frontier | 276 | 4,222 | -3,946 | -93% |
Southwest | 2,410 | 29,114 | -26,704 | -92% |
United | 6,095 | 44,180 | -38,085 | -86% |
Charters | 0 | 402 | -402 | -100% |
Total | 21,798 | 164,442 | -142,644 | -87% |
Social distancing policies on Southwest, Delta and Alaska are limiting passenger loads temporarily. Alaska is capping loads to 65% through July 31. Delta is reducing capacity to 50% in first class, and 60% in main cabin. Southwest is limiting capacity to 90 passengers on a 143-seat aircraft. In May, the average load factor at ICT was 34%.
Compared to May 2019, scheduled capacity was down 56% in flights and 58% in seats. Smaller aircraft, fewer flights and suspension of some service are the main reasons for the reduction.
- American operated all regional jets to Dallas
- Delta suspended service to Minneapolis
- Delta operated one daily flight to Atlanta instead of 3
- Frontier reduced service to Denver to 1 weekly flight
- United operated all regional jets to Denver
- United reduced flights to Houston and Chicago
- Southwest suspended service to Phoenix and Las Vegas
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The reopening of attractions has prompted the increase in passenger traffic and airlines are responding. Allegiant began nonstop service to Destin and Orlando-Sanford in May. In July, American will double its flights to Chicago. Delta will reinstate nonstop service to Minneapolis with one daily flight. Frontier will operate 9 flights to Denver instead of 5. Southwest will reinstate nonstop service to Phoenix. Overall, capacity will increase 23%.
August capacity is expected to increase with American returning its A-319 aircraft to DFW. Delta will operate 2 daily flights each to Atlanta and Minneapolis. United will operate narrow-body and regional jet aircraft to Denver. Southwest will reinstate nonstop service to Las Vegas.
The May aviation reports can be found in Airport Business.