Waterloo Regional Airport Reports Usage Increase

More people are using the Waterloo Regional Airport these days, according to new statistics released today (Friday, January 16, 2015).

The city of Waterloo and airport officials are reporting that 2014 was a good year for passenger travel at the facility. The numbers show a nearly 16% increase in passenger usage, when comparing similar figures for 2013.

Officials reported a total of 22,382 outbound passengers used the Waterloo Regional Airport for air travel in 2014, an increase of 3,050 passengers the previous year. The 2014 numbers also show a 24% increase over the past two years, with 4,360 more people boarding flights than in 2012.

“This is great news for passengers in Waterloo, Cedar Falls and throughout the Cedar Valley Region as we continue in 2015,” said Keith Kaspari, Airport Director. “Looking at the increases over the last couple of years, including the important fourth quarter periods when air travel is historically slow for both business and leisure travel—excluding increases of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays—indicates that the airport is making progress in reversing the leakage to larger regional airports, and continuing the recovery of lost passengers due to the airline mergers and consolidation of the airline industry that started in 2008.”

The fourth quarter of 2014 was especially good for the airport, which reported a nearly 17% increase in passenger service over the same three-month period in 2013. The quarterly numbers show there were 870 more air travelers in October, November and December of 2014 than there were the previous year. Going back two years to 2012, the quarterly statistics show a 23% percent rise in airport travel with 1,175 more passengers boarding flights.

The 2014 statistics reflect a 76% aircraft load factor, which is one of the critical indicators American Airlines uses to justify expanding its service in Waterloo, according to Kaspari.

The airport director said his staff wants to see more passengers use the facility for both business and leisure travel.

“Airport Staff looks forward to continue monitoring airfares in contrast with larger regional airports to keep Waterloo airfares competitive,” Kaspari said, “in addition to communicating to airline officials the importance of seeing on-time arrivals and departures, which is critically important when making connections at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.