Finances rebounding at JWA

Paul Clinton

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- The financial picture at the airport has perked

up in recent months, with some forms of revenue near levels seen before

the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Parking revenue at the airport for the month of January was down only

1.74% compared with the same period last year, according to a memo

Airport Director Alan Murphy sent to supervisors Thursday.

The airport pulled in about $1.6 million during that time.

Concession receipts for the month from snacks, gifts, food and other

items -- including revenue from the rental car companies -- was not

available at press time.

In December, however, concession revenue was still down a whopping

16.4% compared with the same period in 2000. It was slightly less than

$7.5 million for the month.

While revenue has begun to rebound, costs for increased security at

the airport have continued to add up. Between Sept. 11 and Jan. 31, the

airport spent about $3.1 million. Last month, the board added 106 new

Orange County Sheriff’s Department positions at the airport.

Airport spokeswoman Ann McCarley was cautiously optimistic about the

new data.

“We’re still looking at the larger financial picture, which includes

the additional security costs,” McCarley said. “Things are starting to

pick up, but we still have tremendous security costs.”

Passenger levels at the airport are also returning to their pre-Sept.

11 levels. The 552,496 passengers who used the airport during January

were only 2.8% below the previous year. Airline operations were down

8.16%, but commercial flights were down only 3.5%.