A new report found that three out of the four main airports that serve the Los Angeles area experienced a decline in passenger numbers in July.
The Los Angeles Business Journal reported that Burbank Airport saw a 14% decrease, while Long Beach Airport saw a 10.5% decrease, and Los Angeles International Airport saw a 2% decrease.
KNX News’ Jon Baird spoke with travelers about Burbank about why they think there was a decrease. One traveler believes it’s because of the current political climate.
“Nobody wants to come to this country,” she said.
Another traveler said she thinks it has to do with the cost of traveling.
“I feel like flights may have gotten a little bit more expensive,” she said. “That may be something that I noticed.”
Joe Brancatelli of joesentme.com told Baird there are other reasons for the decline.
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“The fact that Avalo, which was a low-fare startup that began at Burbank, has pulled out all of their Southern California service,” he said. “They've basically retrenched here in the east. Southwest is going through its own problems partially because of the pressure put on them by a company called Elliott Management, a hedge fund.”
Peter Greenberg, travel editor for CBS News, told Baird he thinks it’s because of the economy, the tariff wars, and “uncertainty in general.”
“Coupled with that, a drop in foreign travelers to the United States that started back in January and February and continues until now,” he said.
The report also found that despite the decreases, Ontario Airport saw a 2% increase.
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