BUFFALO, N.Y. — As we reported with our partner Investigative Post back in March, passenger volume dropped like a rock at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, and not much has changed since as in the relatively quiet, open terminal space.
While there might now be a slight uptick, the passenger count is still way down. NFTA Aviation Director Bill Vanecek says that on a typical day at this time of year, they would have up to 7,500 passengers, pre-COVID. Now they are down to about 1,300 per day.
Some service to New York City has been restored, but struggling airlines still have fewer flights in and out of Buffalo. And it's no surprise why, according to Vanecek.
"Early on in the pandemic you were literally seeing one, two, three, maybe 10, and you were happy to see 10 people get on a plane," Vanecek said. "That's now changed, and they're seeing an uptick on certain flights that are particularly southbound.
"They're having some pretty good loads. Sometimes you're seeing 100, 120 people get on a plane, but generally speaking, they're filling about a third of their plane."
Part of the loss stems from business travel being almost non-existent in these days of Zoom. And for Western New York in particular, no border traffic means no Canadian travelers who want to go elsewhere.
Vanecek says, "We normally have about 30 percent of our travelers drive down from Canada and fly out of BNIA, so that's a big number for us. In terms of our enplanement, about 2.5 million, 30 percent of that is not coming because they can't."
NFTA officials stress that despite that dramatic drop in passengers and flight volume they are committed to keeping all parts of Buffalo Niagara International up and running.
Vanecek explains, "We took money from the CARES Act. Part of that money, you have a commitment from that to maintain your staff, so we have more staff, quite frankly, than what we typically need at this level. But the big benefit is the airport looks better than it ever did."
Still, though, the losses keep mounting up, especially from less travelers using much less parking which is a major revenue source for the airport. They have actually eliminated the long term economy lots and their shuttle bus service for now.
Now at the same time an $80 million airport expansion is underway. The project's purpose is to better improve passenger flow and reduce bottlenecks at the security checkpoint.
2 On Your Side asked Vanecek about the timing of this work when passenger volume is so low. He explained that the expansion was in the works.
"The money is restricted only to the project itself, so we went out to the bond market. So the money is already in hand, already secured by something called the Passenger Facility Charge. We're too far down the road to not do it. And if we don't do it now I think it's very short sighted because at some point it will come back," Vanecek said.
We also asked about Niagara Falls International Airport, which has only charter flights and Spirit Airlines, which is one of the carriers there, has pulled out for now. Allegiant Airlines is still operating limited charter flights in Niagara Falls.
Also, the vast majority of travelers using the airport, 88 percent, are again Canadian passengers who aren't coming. Vanecek acknowledges the demand just in not there at this point but he says Spirit may resume operations in the summer of 2021 if the COVID situation improves.
He says they operate normally at a deficit with the Niagara Falls terminal but do recoup significant revenue from travelers who park their vehicles for a week or so of vacation.
Vanecek further explained: "There's a number of factors that require us to keep it open. Number one, we've accepted federal financing to do things like our runways and taxiways."
They also must maintain the airport under the agreements with both Spirit and Allegiant to operate there.
And of course, there's joint operation with the Air Force Reserve Air Base. Vanecek says, "It's a major employer in Niagara Falls. Without that base for Niagara Falls you would have a huge impact on the state of the economy in Niagara County and our collective regional economy."