Airport sees increase in originating travelers

Other airlines are growing as US Airways shrinks its presence in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The number of people who begin their trips at Pittsburgh International Airport grew 27 percent from 1993 to last year, according to the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
Known as the origination and destination passenger count, or O & amp;D, the tally was 3.5 million last year, up from 2.8 million 10 years ago.
"There is significant originating traffic here in Pittsburgh, and it's here no matter what happens with US Airways," Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "That's why I've been extremely positive in all of this."
Brad Penrod, the authority's chief operating officer, said other airlines are taking advantage as US Airways shrinks and that the airport has been able to successfully market itself. Penrod cited ATA, America West and USA 3000 as examples.
"If US Airways were not to be here in its current state, the airport would survive," Penrod said. "All of the carriers we talk with see our trend has been strong. Our [market] is certainly attractive, and the local O & amp;D numbers have remained increasingly steady."
What figures show
According to figures from the authority, O & amp;D has been on the increase since 1992, despite a small decrease after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Passengers changing flights here accounted for 69 percent of passengers in 1993, a number that has dropped to 51 percent.
Pittsburgh is US Airways' third-largest hub.
The increase has resulted in the airport increasing parking for local passengers, including an employee lot that was turned into a passenger parking lot.
Many airlines are saying they've also seen an increase in O & amp;D in Pittsburgh. American Airlines had 8,603 passengers originated from Pittsburgh in February, up 127 percent from 3,790 in February 2003.
About 23,700 passengers boarded AirTran jets originating in Pittsburgh during the first two months of the year, compared with 19,175 last year.
"We're generally doing better in Pittsburgh than we had in previous years," said Tad Hutcheson, an AirTran spokesman. "We do very well in Pittsburgh with people flying to Atlanta and Orlando."
Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, US Airways' flights have declined 26 percent and the local work force was cut 40 percent.
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