As you well know, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) – in common with most US airports – has experienced painful service reductions over the past few years. As airlines have responded to record high fuel prices and uncertain economic conditions by cutting flights from their schedules and accelerating the retirement of older airplane models, passengers – and airports – across the country have had to endure diminished flight options.

Against this backdrop, I am extremely pleased to report that, for the first four months of 2013, CLE has experienced continuous year-over-year increases in scheduled capacity, adding both more flights and more seats than for the same January-through-April period of 2012. Some of the highlights of the four-month period include:

• Almost all of CLE’s carriers have added capacity, with Delta Air Lines scheduling 10.7% more seats than they posted in January-April 2012;
• US Airways has been the largest contributor to departure growth, adding 8.2% more scheduled take-offs than they offered in their schedule last year; and
• Hub carrier United Airlines also increased capacity in the period, and furthermore has started adding new destinations to its CLE route map, recently announcing summer service to Portland, Oregon, and summer weekend service to Charleston, South Carolina, and Traverse City, Michigan.

These additions reflect the continuing strengthening of the Northeast Ohio economy and travel market, which is evidenced by CLE posting significantly higher passenger traffic figures. The Airport accommodated 5% more passengers in the first quarter of 2013 than we did in the January-March 2012 period.

Although the unpredictable nature of today’s airline industry means that there is no certainty as to what tomorrow will bring, we are extremely heartened by these schedule additions, which appear set to continue into the summer season. As the Cleveland Plus economy continues its renaissance and spurs on fresh demand for air travel, we are hopeful that this represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for your airport.

Sincerely,

Ricky D. Smith, Airport Director