Southwest, other airlines packing planes to Fresno. Airport among best-performing in U.S.

Fresno was among the best-performing domestic air travel markets in the nation for three large U.S. airlines in October, with at least 90% of seats filled on their departing and arriving flights.

Enilria.com, a website that crunches Federal Department of Transportation data on airlines and airports, reported that Southwest Airlines’ flights to and from Fresno Yosemite International Airport experienced an average “load factor” of 92% in October, the most recent month for which the federal data is available. That was tops among 107 airports for which information was provided.

United Airlines and American Airlines had slightly higher load factors for their flights serving Fresno, each with 94% of their seats filled during the month. For United Airlines, Fresno Yosemite International was ranked second among 155 airports listed. American Airlines’ traffic to and from Fresno had the third highest load factor out of 198 listed airports in October.

The figures represent mainline flights operated by each airline, rather than those provided under contract arrangements with Utah-based SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest flies to and from Fresno under the United Express and American Eagle brands, among others.

For SkyWest, the company’s Fresno flights had an average load factor of 91%, 18th out of 220 airports listed for the airline.

Of the other significant airlines with flights to and from Fresno for which data was available, Allegiant Air had the lowest load factor at about 70% – the second-lowest from among 78 airports on the list. Allegiant’s only destination from Fresno is Las Vegas.

For all commercial airlines combined, Fresno Yosemite International had a load factor of about 91% in October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Numbers predate holiday weather, Southwest meltdown

The Enilria and Bureau of Transportation Statistics data predates the nationwide Christmas week travel meltdown, when flight schedules across the country were disrupted by a major winter storm that swept across the country. That storm, which resulted in flights delays and cancellations at major airport hubs in the Midwest and eastern U.S., also created ripple effects in other parts of the country when grounded flights stranded passengers waiting for connections to other airports. Southwest’s internal struggles contributed to a meltdown for days after the storms had passed.

Airline-specific information on passengers, flights and load factors at Fresno Yosemite International Airport for October includes:

• American Airlines: 15,707 passengers on 98 departing flights, 93.9% of seats filled; 15,640 passengers on 97 arriving flights, 94.3% filled.

• Southwest Airlines: 15,349 passengers on 119 departing flights, 91.6% filled; 15,665 passengers on 119 arriving flights, 92.4% filled.

• United Airlines: 7,785 passengers on 60 departing flights, 93.8% filled; 7,851 passengers on 60 arriving filghts, 94.5% filled.

• SkyWest Airlines: 28,176 passengers on 498 departing flights, 90.6% filled; 28,005 passengers on 497 arriving flights, 91.3% filled.

• Allegiant Air: 8,306 passengers on 71 departing flights, 65.3% filled; 8,569 passengers on 71 arriving flights, 67.4% filled.

• Alaska Airlines: 4,444 passengers on 30 departing flights, 85.7% filled; 4,705 passengers on 30 arriving flights, 90.7% filled.