Our airport’s positive growth trend continue. October’s total passenger numbers were up seven percent over the same month last year. That means we’re up five percent for the period January - October. In and of itself, that may not sound like a big deal, but it is: we continue to be the only airport in the central region of the United States with positive growth for the year.

Take a look at this chart. It shows monthly percentage increases and decreases for the past 16 months:

Notice the valley in September of last year: down 24% compared to the same month the year before––a direct reflection of the national recession. We began 2009 down 14%. Then, in March, we came up 14 points. In April we hit the magic zero––no change from the year before. In May numbers skyrocketed: up 17% Before May we had 15 consecutive months of negative or flat numbers.

For those of you who love numbers, here are the monthly total passenger numbers for 2009, along with the percent change from the same month the year before:

• January: 50,375. -14%
• February: 45,797. -15%
• March: 66,295. -1%
• April: 61,413. 0%
• May: 84,496. +17%
• June: 85,976. +10%
• July: 84,076. +13%
• August: 73,499. +13%
• September: 65,342. +13%
• October: 71,250. +7%

If you REALLY love numbers, check out our stats web page. It tracks our vital numbers all the way back to 1998. Be sure to use the monthly tabs at the bottom of the page. Holler if you have questions about what you’re looking at. Follow this link: http://mobile.flyspringfield.com//newshome.htm. Look for the link that says, “statistical web pages.”

For more thoughts on why our passengers numbers are so peachy, read this previous post.

Listen up you United and Continental frequent flyers…

Starting next year the airlines “will allow members of each carrier’s frequent flier program who have earned elite status to receive unlimited free upgrades on flights operated by both airlines when space is available.”

Read more from the Chicago Tribune.

Here’s a clip of the return Tuesday night of the Ozarks first Honor Flight. More than 200 people turned out at the airport to give the 75 World War II vets a warm welcome home. The plane got back into town at 10:45 pm! Read more about Honor Flight in this previous post.

This morning, dark, cold and dreary, the very first Ozarks Honor Flight departed the airport for Washington DC. The veterans return tonight at about 10:50. Come out and welcome them back. Meanwhile, here’s a movie of this morning’s festivities…

Bright and early tomorrow morning (0500!) the airport will host the first, of what we hope will be many, Ozarks Honor Flights.

Honor Flights began in Ohio in 2005. They have one goal:

“To transport, in the safest and most timely means possible, military veterans of World War II to Washington DC to view their World War II Memorial and other commemorative sites with the highest degree of honor, respect and gratitude at no cost to the veteran.”

Why the urgency? The World War II memorial wasn’t completed until 2004. So most veterans of that war have never seen it. And many have left us without seeing it.

Visit the Ozarks Honor Flight web site by clicking here.

Most of us don’t carry a lot of cash when we travel, but just in case you do, here’s a story for you…

According to the Washington Times, TSA screeners have new rules: “The new rules, issued in September and October, tell officers “screening may not be conducted to detect evidence of crimes unrelated to transportation security” and that large amounts of cash don’t qualify as suspicious for purposes of safety.”

Yes, that’s right…before these new rules came out, large amounts of cash made you a suspect. The issue came to a head last year when a campaign worker for U.S. Rep Ron Paul was stopped at Lambert Field in St. Louis because he had more than $4,000 in cash. TSA employees demanded to know why he was carrying so much. The wise campaign aide recorded the encounter on his iPhone (bureaucrats absolutely hate recordings, but I digress).

Read more about TSA mission creep in this previous post.

We read with great amusement this morning a press release from Google.

“Google today announced that it is working with airports across the country as well as Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and others to provide free Wi-Fi as a holiday gift now through January 15, 2010.”

A free holiday gift…free Wi-Fi…really? Wow, that’s great…

I guess Google and all those others must have been watching us—our airport has had free Wi-Fi for the past five years. In fact, we’ve never charged for it.  Spread the word!

A business traveler gets booted from first class because he’s wearing a track suit. Read the rest of the story here.

Last week United’s CEO was chattering about the possibility of a merger… This week it’s the president of Continental Airlines, Jeff Smisek. He’s chattering about the possibility of merging with United.

FYI…Last year United and Continental flirted with the idea of merging. Talks broke down when United’s poor financial status became clear.