Press Releases
Baton Rouge Metro Airport Count Up in September and October
Enplanements (departing passengers) at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport were up back-to-back months in September and October at 6.98% and 4.43% respectively. Deplanements (arriving passengers) were up 4.03% in September and 12.29% in October. Through October, total passenger traffic is flat at 622,085 passengers.
Interim Airport Director, Ralph Hennessy, said "We are pleased with the community support that resulted in significant increases in passenger volume in September and October. The flood and subsequent flight cancellations due to the curfew adversely impacted our August passenger count, but we have recovered nicely.”
The cancellation rate for all BTR commercial flight departures was only 1.6% through July, but the August percentage reached 8.5% due to the flood and curfew-related cancellations.
Hennessy attributed the September and October gains to increased airline seating capacity at BTR, including United’s upgrades to larger, dual-class Embraer 170/75 jets for some flights. "The BTR load factors have been high; we just needed additional seats. With seating capacity up slightly in September and October, we saw the expected passenger jump. Our current flight schedules for November and December also include a slight increase in seating capacity, which we hope will result in a year-over-year increase in BTR passenger volume.”
Delta Air Lines has the top BTR market share year-to-date at 40%, followed by American at 35% and United at 25%.
About Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) is served by mega-carriers American, Delta, and United to four of the country’s largest hub airports – Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston InterContinental – providing single connection service to destinations worldwide. BTR is the second largest airport in Louisiana based on commercial flights and passenger volume. The Airport is known for its ease of getting to and through, and offers numerous passenger amenities such as free Wi-Fi, a business lounge, and a charging room.
Contact: Jim Caldwell
Air Service Development, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
aton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
jcaldwell@brgov.com
Phone 225-355-0333