As recently as 1984, Metro still had a relatively inactive airport with service on a per capita basis far below that of many other cities in the United States. In 1984, Republic Airlines decided to make Metro its major hub. In 1984, Republic alone boarded 1.6 million passengers. By 1987, the merged Republic and Northwest Orient Airlines boarded 5.6 million passengers – a 350% increase in just four years – and the airport handled a total of nearly 9 million passengers. In 1988, nearly 11 million passengers will use Metro. This large increase in passenger explains the huge increase in aircraft operations at Metro.
TABLE 2
AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS AT METRO
1975-87
Year |
Airline |
Commuter Airline |
General Aviation |
Military |
Total Operations |
1975 |
160,911 |
13,192 |
60,911 |
121 |
235,135 |
1976 |
159,691 |
14,604 |
72,819 |
206 |
247,320 |
1977 |
166,638 |
17,129 |
78,006 |
152 |
261,916 |
1978 |
167,280 |
19,730 |
80,515 |
337 |
267,862 |
1979 |
191,815 |
18,129 |
73,435 |
169 |
283,548 |
1980 |
180,898 |
21,193 |
65,978 |
211 |
268,280 |
1981 |
158,694 |
40,202 |
61,911 |
205 |
261,012 |
1982 |
149,008 |
44,064 |
55,782 |
274 |
249,128 |
1983 |
169,008 |
51,990 |
60,967 |
277 |
282,242 |
1984 |
195,157 |
65,364 |
65,373 |
376 |
326,270 |
1985 |
242,835 |
69,102 |
68,082 |
299 |
380,318 |
1986 |
267,375 |
75,366 |
62,874 |
320 |
405,935 |
1987 |
267,067 |
77,563 |
66,663 |
335 |
411,628 |
Source: Table 10 of Prospectus for sale of Airport Revenue Bonds. Published by Wayne County in 1986, p. B-48.
Between 1975 and 1987, combined airline and commuter airline operations doubted. This increase has far exceeded the physical growth of the airport itself, which has seen relatively little capital expansion since 1974. And, it is likely that airline operations expansion will continue due to growth in the population and general economy of the Airport Service Region [8] and from increased hubbing activity at the airport. [9]