Airport Passenger Numbers Dip Slightly So Far in 2002
A year-to-date air traffic report shows a 3 percent decline in the number of passengers coming to the city, but the rate of decline has dwindled from earlier months.
During the 10 months ended in October, 6.25 million people arrived in San Diego compared to 6.45 million in the previous period.
That percentage is viewed as good news by both officials from Lindbergh Field and the San Diego Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.
“Our numbers are encouraging because a lot of (the country’s) airports through this summer have seen double-digit declines,” said Bryan Enarson, Lindbergh’s vice president of development.
Through August the year-to-date inbound passenger rate was down 7.2 percent compared to the year-ago period, according to the air traffic report.
“Our recovery has come quickly,” he said, referring to the months following last year’s terrorist attacks. “Passenger levels are down some, but there has also been a 3 percent reduction in flights.”
The report calculates data from 17 passenger carriers that use the airport.
“The percentage of decline is gradually decreasing,” said ConVis spokesman Sal Giametta. “Convention (attendance) is strong, but we’re still not seeing as many individual business travelers.”
, Connie Lewis
Insurance Group Honors Owner of Chula Vista Agency
The board of directors for the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West, also known as IBA West, created the Bud Wilson Award to honor the service of David F. “Bud” Wilson as president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.
Wilson is CEO of the Wilson Insurance Agency Inc., a full-service, independent insurance agency in Chula Vista.
IBA West is a regional trade association headquartered in Oakland that serves insurance brokers and independent insurance agents. It is the California chapter of the IIABA, a national trade association.
The award will be given annually to the chairperson of the IBA West Young Brokers and Agents Committee so they can use the $1,000 stipend to participate in the national association’s Legislative Conference.