 Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport has gotten a boost from low-cost carriers. |
Even as mainstream airlines consolidate, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport traffic continues to grow rapidly, thanks to a surge in low-cost carriers and international traffic. Domestic travel in January was 10% above the year-earlier period; international traffic was up 26.5%.
Three of the airport’s four largest carriers are now low-cost airlines. Miramar-based Spirit Airways, the airport’s largest carrier, plans to increase its flights at the airport by 40% this summer over last year. JetBlue and Southwest round out the top three, with Delta a close fourth.
Accommodating Spirit’s growth has been a challenge, particularly last summer, when overflow crowds led to tumult and delays. Air Canada has been moved to another terminal, leaving Spirit with two small neighbors and about 80% of the gate traffic in terminal 4.
The airport faces other challenges:To save money and allow for expansion, the terminal’s baggage handling center was built without walls or a full ceiling. Bags get wet, and handlers must evacuate during lightning storms, delaying check-in. The solution, says airport director Kent George: A $250,000 temporary roof and an enclosed structure to be built when the terminal is expanded within the next few years.
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport |
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| Airline |
Passengers (January) |
Airport share |
| Spirit |
312,814 | 14.8% |
| JetBlue |
273,471 | 13.0 |
| Southwest |
269,656 | 12.8 |
| Delta |
263,120 | 12.5 |
| US Airways |
194,450 | 9.2 |
| Continental |
174,301 | 8.3 |
| American |
165,279 | 7.8 |
| AirTran |
110,384 | 5.2 |
| Northwest |
65,143 | 3.1 |
| United/Ted | 39,378 | 1.9 |
| Source: Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport | ||
Still ahead: A $700-million runway expansion, targeted for completion in 2012. The source of a hotly contested community battle, the county’s runway choice awaits the completion of the FAA’s environmental impact statement this summer.
“Quite honestly, we’re a little bit behind right now, both on the runway and in gate space for the airlines,” George says. “We are going to move forward. The board has given me direction to continue with the master plan.”
 FLL’s rental car center. |