JWA passenger totals continue to climb

The number of passengers using John Wayne Airport in March dropped

1.2% compared with the previous year, airport officials said Wednesday.

The numbers appear to be a byproduct of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

During the month, 637,612 travelers used the airport, compared with

647,447 during March 2001.

Commercial flights were also down, by 3.4%, from the prior year.

Private and chartered flights fell 9.5% during the period. Those

flights, known as general aviation, accounted for 77% of the total

flights at the airport during the month.

Cargo tonnage showed a significant decline during the period, dropping

24.7% over the year.

So far this year, the airport has drawn 1.7 million passengers, a 1.7%

decline from 2001.

Air travel at the airport has steadily climbed back from the

precipitous drops following Sept. 11.