Lansing airport shows increase in number of flyers
Customer service representative for Capital Region International Airport Kevin Baumgardner assists Lansing resident Randy Lewis as he checks his bags for his trip to Utah.
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As spring break approaches and students plan a getaway from classes, they might be among a growing number of passengers at Lansing’s Capital Region International Airport.
The airport saw a large growth in departing and arriving passenger flights in 2011 for the first time in several years.
According to Airline and Cargo Statistics, the airport saw a 38.6 percent increase in total passengers from about 264,000 in 2010 to about 366,000 in 2011.
Sun Country Airlines, which joined the airport in late 2010, brought competition to the airport that helped stimulate the growth, airport spokesman Robert Kolt said.
“Sun Country service has really made (the other airlines at Lansing’s airport) more competitive,” said Kolt. “It’s been really great for Lansing and the traveling public.”
Kolt said since Sun Country came to Lansing, airline ticket costs have dropped and made using the closer airport more appealing to the MSU community and Lansing area residents.
While the increase does not bring passengers coming and going from Lansing anywhere near the 32,406,159 reported by Detroit Metro Airport for 2011, Kolt said flying through Lansing’s airport can save flyers from paying the Detroit “hassle factor” — the cost and amount of time it takes to travel to Detroit for a flight.
When biochemistry and molecular biology freshman Rachel Michalowski picked Riviera Maya in Mexico for her high school spring break destination last year, she decided flying out of Lansing was easier than driving to Detroit from her Midland, Mich., home.
“It wasn’t as far for us, and it wasn’t as crowded or as busy,” she said.
Officials from travel agency STA Travel, 207 E. Grand River Ave., also said more of their customers departed from Capital Region International Airport in 2011 than 2010.
Although Capital Region International Airport has seen a recent increase in passengers, many students continue to use Detroit Metro Airport instead of Lansing’s to save money.
“I (normally) just assume it’s more cost-effective to go elsewhere,” finance and Spanish senior Drew Hawkins said.
Hawkins said he plans to carpool with friends to the Detroit Metro Airport before flying to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for spring break.
“This time we did look, and it was cheaper (to go to Detroit),” he said.
Hawkins isn’t alone. Other students also said carpooling or taking the Michigan Flyer shuttle service is the easiest way to cut down on upcoming spring break travel costs.
However, Kolt said students often check airline prices for spring break only once and sometimes miss out on cheaper prices.
“You have to check every day,” Kolt said.
Despite the surge in customers at Lansing’s airport, business at Detroit Metro Airport remains steady, Detroit Metro Airport Public Affairs Manager Scott Wintner said.
“We might negligibly lose a few (passengers) here or there, … but any growth in Michigan airports is a growth for all Michigan airports,” he said.
