- news release from Chicago-Rockford International Airport -

October 2009 Passenger Statistics

The Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) released today, its October 2009 passenger statistics. For the month of October the airport recorded 10,338 passengers, an 11% increase over passenger traffic in October 2008. October marks the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year growth. For the year traffic is down 6.47% while the number of available seats is down 10.04%. The year-to-date load factor is 90%, up 4% over the same period last year.

Monthly Comparison
October 2009 – 10,338
October 2008 – 9,334

Year-To-Date
January-October 2009 – 158,646
January-October 2008 – 169,623

"We are pleased and cautiously optimistic. Given the challenging times of this past year, airlines have slashed fares, in many cases below their actual operating costs, making flying extremely cheap for those who feel secure about their income," said Bob O’Brien, Executive Director of RFD.

“Our numbers are very strong considering a 10% decrease in available seats. This year has been challenging, but RFD continues to demonstrate that the region is capable of filling flights to world-class destinations. We see that with a 4% increase in our load factor, if we have a product, we fill it,” said Zach Sundquist, Air Service Analyst for RFD.

Sundquist also pointed out, “At the end of May our traffic was down 21.5%, and now after five consecutive months of growth we are only down 6.47%. At the same time our available seats, which were down 23.6% in May, are now only down 10.04%, so we are definitely seeing signs of recovery.”