TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s major commercial airports are beginning to feel the effects as national carriers cut back on available seats and flights amid record fuel prices.
After experiencing 3 percent to 6 percent growth in passenger boardings April and May, Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport witnessed slowdowns in June.
Will Rogers managed a 1.1-percent rise to 181,588 boardings, while Tulsa International saw a 4 percent decline to 150,291.
Alexis Higgins, marketing director for Tulsa International, attributed the drop to airline cutbacks.
“Last month we had about 6,500 seats available,” Higgins said. “Last year we had about 7,000.”
Higgins suggested July results could show some growth in Tulsa activity due to increased attendance at Pryor’s Rocklahoma festival.
“We’ve seen people from Washington, Canada, from all over for that concert,” she said.
But with more airline cutbacks expected later this year, she said Tulsa International Airport could experience revenue cuts not just from fewer ticket fees and airline charges, but from reduced business at airport restaurants and shops.
Will Rogers Director of Airports Mark Kranenburg said he does not expect to see much impact from airline seat reductions until Labor Day.
“There is no doubt that after Labor Day we are going to have less available seats per day for our passengers,” he said. “We’re going to have reduced flights and reduced seats out of Oklahoma City to everywhere in the world.
“We are not far enough into the process to see how this is going to impact our operations or our revenues.”
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