Travel is BOOMING for Eastern NC-

TSA is seeing sharp increases in passenger traffic across the entire airport system. Air Carrier Load Factors are returning to Pre-Pandemic levels albeit with less air frames and seats.

Only 5 passenger airlines are at or above 2019 seat miles — aircraft  and seats flying.  American Airlines is down 18.4% system wide but American Airlines service at EWN is equal to 2019.  Several airlines sped up old aircraft end of service dates and offered personnel options for early retirement .  As a consequence, you are seeing more news stories on flight cancelations. We have room to grow but stiff competition for aircraft and seats is tough especially when you look at the airlines’ financials.

All passenger airlines are looking for profitable routes.  As bookings and load factors increase, most will raise prices. If planning to fly – book now.

Wow, it has been a roller coaster year!  EWN has returned to 2019 passenger enplanement levels with American!  And we have room to grow as confidence returns and people want to visit our Coastal Paradise.   American Airlines provided EWN 9341 seats during June; EWN enplaned 7924 passengers and had a load factor of 85% (Graphic Above).  Additionally, 7452 passengers flew into EWN at an 80% load factor (Graphic Below).  EWN experienced a higher percentage of  passengers originating from outside our catchment area — OUR INBOUND STRATEGY IS WORKING!

Air Service Update Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCSDP) Grant:   DOT communicated its intent to announce grant recipients sometime in August. If selected, EWN plans to use our grant to recruit a new carrier to Dulles or BWI as part of our “convert the drive to fly” inbound campaign strategy. American Airlines projected schedules show a network-wide seat reduction in August and September.

While we have seen American Airlines return to pre-pandemic numbers here, EWN is still down total flights and seats with Delta’s absence.  Therefore, our return to 2019 numbers relies upon securing another scheduled daily service airline and additional summer service.  In comparison to Post-911 and the 2009 Recession, this recovery has the potential to be the quickest in the Optimistic scenario.

Airport Facilities Update

The Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF)     T.A. Loving completed the majority of the exterior of the ARFF.  However, T.A. Loving has not installed the main equipment bay doors.  Meanwhile, construction focus shifted to interior work and ground prep for the parking lot and connection to the taxiway.  The expected completion remains in late September. 2-Commercial Hangar Project   The bid period ended, and EWN is in the process of selecting the winning bidder. The Airport Board plans to review the contract during its next session.  Road surface Improvement Project EWN is working on plans to resurface all terminal area roads and expand the parking lot during the end of this calendar year.  In addition, the plan expands long-term parking closest to the terminal to maximized parking spots within the shortest walk distance.

Terminal Restroom Upgrade  Mutter Construction expects to start work on the Restroom Upgrade early in August. This project will improve the restrooms across from the restaurant in preparation for the significant terminal overhaul that is scheduled for next year.

Terminal Expansion Project  We have reached the 60% design stage and received the first cost estimates for the Terminal Expansion and Remodel.  Your terminal is twenty years old and needs some updating.  Our architect believes the project will take eighteen months to complete.

Rendering of EWN’s expanded terminal.  There will be four gates with two jet bridges initally installed. Construction may begin as early as September 2022.