2012 AIR SERVICE PROFILE Punta Gorda Airport

prepared by Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Purpose

Airport Air Service Profiles have been developed for Florida’s 19 commercial service . The purpose of the Airport Air Service Profiles is to inform Florida’s airports of the patterns of their communities, so they can operate their airports more efficiently and to communicate this information to the industry, allowing them to make informed service delivery decisions.

Data Explanation

For this report, three key data sources were used: Passenger Origin-Destination Survey from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Official Airline Guide (OAG) and Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC). In this profile, data are combined and compared in order to identify general trends about the airport, as well as offer certain analysis on the findings. A description of these data sources are presented below. Throughout the text, the data sources will be further explained, but this section provides a general overview of the data used in the development of this Airport Air Service Profile.

AIR PASSENGER ORIGIN AND DESTINATION (O&D) SURVEY

DB1B COUPON: The Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B) is a 10% sample of airline tickets from reporting carriers collected by the Office of Airline Information of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Data from this source provides coupon-specific information for each domestic itinerary of the Origin and Destination Survey.

T-100 DOMESTIC MARKET: This data source contains domestic market data reported by both U.S. and foreign air carriers, including carrier, origin, destination, and service class for enplaned passengers, freight and mail when both origin and destination airports are located within the boundaries of the United States and its territories.

OFFICIAL AIRLINE GUIDE (OAG) OAG data were summarized as weekly averages for the reported year. All OAG data are for direct flights and represents statistically significant samples of data.

AIRLINE REPORTING CORPORATION (ARC) The data provided by this source represent a statistically significant and representative sample of airline tickets purchased with a consumer form of payment through an ARC-accredited agency, including major online travel agencies (OTAs), such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity.

The data represent a 10 percent sample, and industry standard sample size, of passengers from participating agencies. This amount can vary significantly by individual market depending on several factors, including but not limited to the following: 1) the overall composition of air travelers (leisure vs. business); 2) the presence of carriers whose distribution is more heavily weighted toward the direct vs. agency channel (e.g. low cost carriers); and 3) the presence of carriers with limited participation in the ARC settlement system (e.g. Southwest ).

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., ~ Page i ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

The data used represent passengers and zip codes from where in Florida tickets were purchased. The data include purchases from Florida zip codes only. Because the data in this document represent consumer purchases of airline tickets, there is a natural bias toward leisure and unmanaged business travel behavior and may not account for all business travel. There also may be limitations due to misrepresentation of the passenger information in instances where a person from one zip code purchased a ticket for another person in a different zip code.

Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) did not assist in the preparation of this analysis. All analyses disclosed herein were performed by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., the consultant to the Florida Department of Transportation, Central Aviation Office.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., ~ Page ii ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Table of Contents

Punta Gorda Airport Air Service Summary ...... 1 Airport Information and History ...... 1 Analysis ...... 1 Total Enplanements ...... 1 Domestic Origin and Destination (O&D) Travel Patterns ...... 1 Destinations Served ...... 3 Intrastate Summary ...... 3 Departures ...... 3 Seasonal Flight Comparison ...... 5 Hubs Served ...... 5 Average Load Factors ...... 6 On-Flight Market Freight Statistics ...... 6 On-Flight Market Mail Statistics ...... 6 Market Leakage Study...... 7 Introduction...... 7 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ...... 7 Population Trends and Projections ...... 7 Income Levels ...... 8 Employment by Industry...... 8 Routing...... 10 Nearby Airports ...... 10 Market Leakage Analysis ...... 10 Findings ...... 10 Appendix ...... Following Page 10

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., ~ Page iii ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Figures

Figure 1: Punta Gorda Airport Total Annual Enplanements ...... 1 Figure 2: Intrastate Service ...... 3 Figure 3: Punta Gorda Airport – Seasonal Flight Comparison ...... 5 Figure 4: Historical, Current, and Future Population Projections Charlotte County ...... 7 Figure 5: Historical Populations –Punta Gorda MSA...... 8 Figure 6: Income Brackets – Punta Gorda MSA ...... 8 Figure 7: Jobs by Industry – Charlotte County ...... 9 Figure 8: Market Leakage ...... 10

Maps

Map 1: Punta Gorda Domestic Destination Airports and Regions, 2010 ...... 2

Tables

Table 1: Average Load Factors Per Year ...... 6 Table 2: Top 10 Private Employers – Charlotte County ...... 9

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., ~ Page iv ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

PUNTA GORDA AIRPORT AIR SERVICE SUMMARY

AIRPORT INFORMATION AND HISTORY Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) is the latest airport in Florida to begin offering commercial air service. Commercial service at the airport has been intermittent over the past few years. The airport currently operates with three runways that are 7,193 feet, 2,630 feet, and 5,688 feet in length. Although the airport sees very limited commercial service, it enplaned 90,240 total passengers in 2010. This enplanement total was the lowest of any commercial service airport in Florida.

ANALYSIS Punta Gorda Airport is located in the Southwest Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning Process (CFASPP) region. Also included in this region are Southwest Florida and Sarasota- Bradenton International Airport. This analysis includes baseline conditions for the airport based on 2010 and 2011 data. In some instances, historical data are shown for years 2000 to 2010. The main sources of information are the United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), and the Official Airline Guide (OAG). Market leakage data was not available for Punta Gorda Airport; therefore a complete leakage study was not able to be completed for the airport. With the data available, an analysis was completed to determine the number of passengers from the Punta Gorda Airport market leaked to other commercial service airports, but analysis was not able to determine if Punta Gorda attracts any passengers from the primary markets for other 100 commercial airports. 90 TOTAL ENPLANEMENTS 80 In 2010, Punta Gorda Airport had 90,240 total enplanements, making it the airport with the lowest 70 enplanements in the state. Because commercial 60 service at Punta Gorda Airport has only been available on a limited basis over the past few years, 50 determining long term trends is difficult. Total 40 enplanement trends can be seen in Figure 1. 30

20 DOMESTIC ORIGIN AND DESTINATION (O&D) TRAVEL Enplanements (thousands) ATTERNS P 10 In 2010, Punta Gorda Airport had 92,396 domestic enplanements (O&D passengers), the lowest total of - 2007 2008 2009 2010 all commercial service airports in Florida. The difference between the total enplanements and the Figure 1: Punta Gorda Airport Total Annual domestic enplanements is due to reporting Enplanements inconsistencies between the airport and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and is not a result of international enplanements. Though service was intermittent, Punta Gorda Airport did enplane 49,497 passengers in 2008 and 63,001 in 2009. Based on the incomplete data reported by the airlines serving Punta Gorda Airport, average one-way domestic fares at Punta Gorda Airport were $44.87 in 2010. This average fare is skewed due to reporting discrepancies. Map 1 shows Punta Gorda Airport’s domestic nonstop destinations, number of passengers, and average fares. O&D passenger and fare data were collected from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) O&D survey and summarized from schedule T-100 Domestic Market All Carriers. Fare data was taken from U.S.DOT BTS DB1B Market Data.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., ~ Page 1 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Map 1: Punta Gorda Domestic Destination Airports and Regions, 2010 Final destination information is based on a 10% sample of ARC-accredited Online Travel Agencies (OTA) and represents tickets purchased from Florida zip codes

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., ~ Page 2 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

DESTINATIONS SERVED Punta Gorda Airport serves 5 domestic airport locations throughout the U.S. with direct flights. Of the 5 destinations, four are served by large jet and one is served by a aircraft. Because Punta Gorda Airport is able to offer flights on larger aircraft, the airport is able to carry an average of 139 passengers, a relatively high amount for an airport of this size. Data used to compile this information are from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) and are presented as a weekly summary taken during July 2011. A summary of airports served, number of flights, and serving airlines is provided in the Appendix. The destinations that an airport is able to serve are directly affected by the airlines that provide service. Airlines often enter into code sharing agreements so that they are able to expand their service without investing in the necessary resources. The Appendix provides a list of contract airlines and the airports that have code sharing agreements with them.

INTRASTATE SUMMARY Punta Gorda Airport is one of the 16 airports in Florida that offers intrastate service. In 2011, Punta Gorda served one destination with two weekly flight departures. Data displayed for intrastate flights were taken from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) and show the weekly average number of flights from data collected in July of 2011. Intrastate service is summarized below in Figure 2 and on Map 2 on the following page.

Out of State NW FL Reg. 96% Intrastate 4%

Figure 2: Intrastate Service Intrastate Flights as a percent of Total

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTURES Punta Gorda Airport did not serve any international airports with direct service in 2011.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 3 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Map 2: Punta Gorda Airport Top Ten Routes, 2011 Average Number of Flights per Week

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 4 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

SEASONAL FLIGHT COMPARISON Scheduled service showed extremely high levels of variability throughout the seasons in 2011. Destinations in the Mid-West U.S. region were served with almost twice as many flights in the winter than in the summer, while intrastate destinations were only served with flights in the summer and spring. Seasonal flight information is from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) and summarized as a weekly average with winter months being December 2010 and January 2011, spring months being March and April 2011, and summer months being July and August 2011. A summary of the seasonal comparison for Punta Gorda Airport can be seen below in Figure 3.

50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% Winter 0.0% Spring Summer

Figure 3: Punta Gorda Airport – Seasonal Flight Comparison Seasons presented are from a representative sample.

HUBS SERVED Punta Gorda Airport is considered a non-hub airport, which means that it enplanes less than 0.05 percent of total enplaned passengers from all U.S. airports. Punta Gorda Airport had 92,396 domestic enplanements and offered flights to four domestic hub airports. To be considered a hub airport, an airport must serve at least 0.05 percent of all enplaned passengers in the U.S. Hub information is from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) using Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data as of June 2011.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 5 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

AVERAGE LOAD FACTORS Average load factors represent the number of passenger miles traveled as a proportion of available seat miles. Higher average load factors represent more total passengers . The average load factor for Punta Gorda Airport, 90.60, was much higher than the U.S. average, 81.73, for 2011. Load factor data were found using Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) T-100 segment data for the years 2010 and 2011 Load factor statistics were determined using Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) T-100 segment data for the years 2010 and 2011. A summary of 2010 and 2011 average load factors can be seen in Table 1.

Table 1: Average Load Factors Per Year Year Domestic International Total 2010 (Jan-Dec) 85.10 0 85.10 2011 (Jan-Sept) 90.60 0 90.60 All U.S. Airports Average Load Factors 2010 (Jan-Dec) 82.18 81.59 81.90 2011 (Jan-Sept) 83.03 80.41 81.73

ON-FLIGHT MARKET FREIGHT STATISTICS Punta Gorda Airport did not carry any freight in 2010 or 2011.

ON-FLIGHT MARKET MAIL STATISTICS Punta Gorda Airport did not carry any mail in 2010 or 2011.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 6 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

MARKET LEAKAGE STUDY

INTRODUCTION Florida has the most large hub airports (4) of any state in the U.S. Florida also has a large number of commercial service airports (19), which compete over the same potential passengers. There are many factors that play into the decision-making of passengers, ranging from cost to airport proximity to how direct a flight is. Because of these factors, many smaller commercial airports in Florida experience market leakage, or a loss of passengers who choose to drive further distances to airports for various reasons, such as less expensive flights or more convenient flight options. For large airports located in large metropolitan areas leakage may be a less significant factor due to the fact that they still carry large numbers of passengers. Conversely for smaller airports the loss of passengers to larger airports may potentially be more significant. This analysis looks at tickets purchased in Florida zip codes to see which Florida airports lose business due to market leakage. The market leakage study analyzes zip codes from where a ticket was purchased and subsequently which airport was departed from for that purchase. This analysis determined how many passengers leaving a county with commercial air service to use an airport located within another county. In order to better understand the market leakage findings, key demographic data are presented as part of the market leakage study.

METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA) Punta Gorda Airport is the only commercial airport located in the Punta Gorda MSA. This MSA is the smallest of any MSA with commercial airline service. According to the U.S. Census, an MSA is “a geographic entity based on the concept of a core area with a large population nucleus, plus adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core.” Per this definition, looking at populations, employment, and other important factors at the level of an MSA, should prove beneficial in better understanding the area. Data are also analyzed at the county level where appropriate.

POPULATION TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS 250,000 The Punta Gorda MSA has a current population of 159,385 people. The airport 200,000 is located in Charlotte County, which has a current population of 159,978 people. 150,000 Historical, current, and future population projections for the Charlotte County can 100,000 be seen in Figure 4 and historical population data for the MSA can be seen in Figure 5 on the following page. 50,000 Historical and current population data are taken from the 2010 census and population - projections were taken from the Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) 2010. Figure 4: Historical, Current, and Future Population Projections Charlotte County .

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 7 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

180,000 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 - 1990 2000 2010

Figure 5: Historical Populations –Punta Gorda MSA

INCOME LEVELS Income levels for Charlotte County are low when compared to the state 14% average. In the county, the average 12% per capita income is $35,858 while the Florida average is $38,965. Income in 10% the Punta Gorda MSA follows normal 8% trends, but show that, in general, 6% more people fall into a lower income bracket than do people in other MSAs 4% in the state. The income in an area 2% may impact the demand for in an area. In an area that has a 0% relatively high number of upper income households, more people may be willing to pay more in order to travel a shorter distance to the airport increases. In lower income areas, Less than $10,000 than Less $200,000 or more or $200,000 $15,000 to $19,999 to $15,000 $10,000 to $14,999 to $10,000 $35,000 to $39,999 to $35,000

people may be likely to drive a greater $34,999 to $30,000 $25,000 to $29,999 to $25,000 $20,000 to $24,999 $59,999 to $50,000 $75,000 to $99,999 $45,000 to $49,999 to $45,000 $60,000 to $74,999 $40,000 to $44,999 $125,000 to $149,999 to $125,000 $100,000 to $124,999 distance for air travel in order to to $199,999 $150,000 capture reduced fares. A summary of MSA Florida income brackets for the MSA are below in Figure 6. Income data for Figure 6: Income Brackets – Punta Gorda MSA the county were obtained from Enterprise Florida while income data for the MSA were obtained from the U.S. Census American Fact Finder.

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY The type of employment that is located in an area may also have an effect on airline travel. For areas that have a large number of firms that participate in professional services demand for air

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 8 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

travel will be inelastic due to the fact they are generally less concerned about the cost of flights and more concerned about ease of access to the airport. Charlotte County shows large variations in employment industries with a much higher percent of hospitality jobs and professional/business services and a much lower percentage of education and health services jobs or trade, transportation, and utilities jobs. A summary of employment by industry can be seen below in Figure 7. A list of the County’s top employers can be seen in Table 5 below. Employment information was taken from Enterprise Florida and contains data from 2010.

25%

20%

15%

10%

5% Charlotte 0% Florida

Figure 7: Jobs by Industry – Charlotte County

Major Employers Number of Employees Wal-Mart 1,424 Peace River Regional Medical Center 1,067 Charlotte Regional Medical Center 984 Publix 977 Fawcett Memorial Hospital 716 Winn Dixie 352 The Home Depot 337 Suncoast Media Group, Inc. 325 Palm Automall 262 Bealls Department Stores 259 Table 2: Top 10 Private Employers – Charlotte County

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 9 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

ROUTING Airlines that serve Punta Gorda Airport did not report flight information, therefore routing data was not available for Punta Gorda Airport.

NEARBY AIRPORTS Punta Gorda Airport is located between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Southwest Florida International Airport. And would have the ability to attract passengers from Lee, Collier, Sarasota, and Manatee Counties

MARKET LEAKAGE ANALYSIS A market leakage analysis was completed for Punta Gorda Airport for 2011. Due to the lack of data reported for the airport, the market leakage analysis only evaluated data for tickets purchased from a Charlotte County zip code departing from other commercial airports. By doing this, trends were identified as to whether or not Punta Gorda Airport loses passengers to nearby commercial service airports.

FINDINGS The market leakage analysis found that of the passengers that departed from Southwest 14% 13.0% Florida International Airport, 13 percent were 12% from Charlotte County. Of the passengers 10% that departed from Tampa International 8% Airport, 1.3 percent was from Charlotte 5.9% County. Given the total enplanements at 6% 2,289 Tampa International Airport, the 1.3 4% percentage is relatively significant. Of the 7,072 696 1.3% passengers that departed from Sarasota- 2% Bradenton International Airport, 5.9 percent 0% were form Charlotte County. Figure 8 TPA RSW SRQ illustrates three of the top airports that receive leaked passengers from the Punta Figure 8: Market Leakage Gorda Airport market area, Tampa Represented as a Percentage of the Departing Airports International Airport, Southwest Florida Total Enplanement Volumes in 2011 International Airport, and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The data in Figure 8 represent the number and percent of passengers who purchased their ticket from a Charlotte County zip code but flew out of an alternative airport. Data represents a 10 percent sample of all months of 2011. Data presented are from a 10 percent sample from all months of 2011.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. ~ Page 10 ~ May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

APPENDIX

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) As of Summer 2011

Weekly Departure Carrier Destinations Served 2010 2011 2010 2011 Greensboro 0 2 - G4 Greenville 2 2 G4 G4 Lexington 0 2 - G4 Knoxville 2 2 G4 G4 Ft. Walton Beach 0 2 - V2 Total 4 10 Source: Official Airline Guide, July 2011 Carrier Legend: G4- Allegiant Air, V2- Vision Airlines

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., May 2012 Airport Air Service Profile Punta Gorda Airport

Commercial Agreements as of February 2012 US Airways Delta American Airlines United Airlines PSA Aeromexico Cathay Pacific Airways Colgan Airlines Republic Airways Air France British Airways Mesa Air Group Piedmont AF Regional Airlines Republic Airways Chautauqua Brit Air (AF) Jalways Shuttle America Colgan City Jet (AF) Brussels Airlines Sky West Airlines Trans States Alitalia Finnair Trans States Airlines Mesa Airlines Avianca Iberia Go Jet Air Wisconsin Atlantic Southeast Airlines Gulf Air Express Jet Asiana Alaska Airlines Qantas All Nippon Airways Airlines Horizon Air Royal Jordanian Airlines Atlantic Southeast China Airlines Malev Hungarian Airlines Lufthansa German Airlines Alaska Airlines China Southern Trans States Airlines Continental Airlines Peninsula Airways Comair Chautauqua Airlines Air Lingus Horizon Compass Airlines China Eastern Airlines Asiana ERA Aviation CSA Czech Airlines EVA Air City Line KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Jet Airways Air Dolimiti Continental Airlines KLM City Hopper LAN Airlines EuroWings United Airlines Korean Airlines Mexicana Contact Air Doliminti Olympic Air Augsburg Euro Wings Royal Air Maroc Frontier Contact Masaba Airlines Chautauqua Airlines JetBlue Augsburg Sky West Republic d/b/a/ Midwest Airlines Cape Air Chautauqua Airlines Republic Airlines Freedom AirTran Pinnacle Sky West Shuttle America Vietnam Airlines Virgin Blue Virgin

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., May 2012