Traffic dropped 10 per cent at the Quad City Airport in June, continuing a trend that began in January. All four airlines carried fewer people last month, and only one reports a small increase since the beginning of the year.
Spokeswoman Cathie Rochau says the number of flights hasn't changed very much, compared to last year, just the number of travelers arriving and departing.
"The first five months of last year in 2016 we had the Washington-Dulles flights with United, so there is a difference base on that traffic alone. Additionally, there was some winter service last year on Allegiant that we did hot have this winter."
And fewer travelers means lower sales in the gift shop and snack bars, and less revenue from parking.
For the future, Rochau says the Quad City Airport will continue to promote the benefits of using "your hometown airport."
"Not only do you fly from home, but you land back home. And that really means a lot to people because they don't want to make long drives and have the hassle of highway construction and higher parking fees."
Plans are in the works to survey travelers about fares and schedules, and what other factors might influence their choice of airlines and airports.
She says the drop in traffic here in June was less than at two regional competitors - airports in Cedar Rapids and Peoria.
