Bay County airport officials aren't worried about a dip in passenger numbers. Here's why

Nathan Cobb
·2 min read
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport has serviced about 11,700 more passengers during the first six months of this year than it did during 2021's record-breaking year, and about 129,000 more passengers than it did during the same time in 2019.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport has serviced about 11,700 more passengers during the first six months of this year than it did during 2021's record-breaking year, and about 129,000 more passengers than it did during the same time in 2019.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Traffic at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) took a dive over the past two months, but officials say the facility remains ahead of last year's record-breaking pace.

According to a report released by the Airport Authority during its board meeting Wednesday, passenger numbers in June were down about 13% compared to the same time last year. That marks the second straight month the airport experienced a dip in traffic. There also were about 13% fewer passengers in May compared to May 2021.

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Still, numbers for the first four months of 2022 were higher than their counterparts from 2021, the busiest year in the airport's history. ECP has serviced about 11,700 more passengers during the first six months of this year than it did during the same period last year, and about 129,000 more passengers than it did during the same time in 2019.

"We're down 13%, but that's not a startling number that's (creating) big concerns," said Parker McClellan, executive director of the airport. "We still see a very strong market in and out of Panama City Beach and out of the region."

What are the factors for the decline in passengers?

McClellan said he believes there are two main factors for the decline in passengers in May and June: a decrease in travel demand and ongoing inflation.

In addition to surging ticket prices during the past year, there was a lot of pent-up demand to travel in 2021 that was created in 2020 by restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As we look at what the impacts on the economy have been ... we have no concerns that numbers are down a little bit because discretionary travel is one of the first things to go when you have these economic (blips)," McClellan said. "The demand also is down a little bit because people can go other places."

In June, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport experienced a 13% dip in passengers for the second month in a row.
In June, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport experienced a 13% dip in passengers for the second month in a row.

Looking ahead, McClellan said that while he anticipates total passenger numbers this year to be lower than in 2021, he believes they still will surpass 2019's, proving business at ECP is continuing to boom.

"We're continuing to see success, and I think that goes (with the fact that) we've been discovered," McClellan said. "There are people who enjoy coming to our area for that Southern hospitality and the white, sandy beaches, and they're going to continue coming for that."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County ECP airport seems passenger drop, still ahead of last year