LAFAYETTE, La. — Back in February, a total of nearly 37,000 got on and off of airplanes at Lafayette Regional Airport. That number dropped by nearly 90% in May - that is the bad news.
The good news is that May number is up by 12% from April, which airport director Steven Picou hopes is a good sign that suggests long-term recovery in that sector is on its way.
"The airlines are still in a reduced schedule,” says Picou, “although many of them have indicated in July they will be increasing the number of flights.”
In recent days, national airlines—particularly Delta—announced the further reduction of services to various cities. But Picou says the Lafayette market’s profitability has provided a level of protection.
“Just recently, Delta airlines announced they were stopping service to 11 airports across the nation," he says. "We are not on that list.”
And there’s more good news—prior to the coming of Covid-19, the biggest complaint from passengers was the long TSA checkpoint line, enjoyed each and every morning. Well guess what?
“In a few days—June 16—the TSA will open up that second line at the TSA checkpoint,” smiles Picou.
One more thing providing a bit of optimism—the new $75 million airport terminal? Things, say Picou, are progressing quite well.
“We’re on schedule and right now, on budget,” he says.
And progress being made on that new terminal, the ETA—the arrival of that new terminal? Fall of 2021.
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