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Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport Showed Sharp Growth In 2018

fly-rhi.org

2018 saw a big jump in the number of people flying out of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Aiport with an accompanying increase in revenue.

Airport Director Matthew Leitner says last year was the best year since the Great Recession ended...

"Our enplanements compared to last year are up north of 5 percent. For the month of December versus 2017 we're up almost 20 percent. Part of that is we had a couple of cancellations last December. But even if those(flights)were full, we would have been full, we would have been well short of where we were in 2018. So a really good year...."

Leitner says there were about 25,000 revenue enplanements last year. In 2012 they were at 11,353

. The airport uses SkyWest airlines to link passengers to Delta Airlines in Minneapolis-St. Paul..

He says there are a couple of factors for the increase..

"..It's a function of the economy. We've been recovering ever since then. I think more people are becoming aware of what we have to offer in regard to Delta airlines and the additional flight we will have this summer. As I often say, people ask why don't we go to more destinations?, why can we have more flights?,that's entirely dependent on our enplanements and how many people are using this airport. The more that strengthens the better hand we have when it comes to negotiating with Delta..."

As far as 2019, Leitner says they are in the process of relocating and expanding the secure area at the airport. Right now there's a smaller room to wait in after going through security. The expansion will have a larger room with a restroom.

Leitner says they're positioned to handle more passengers in the year to come.

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