AIR SERVICE
Visit Greater Palm Springs, through our air service consultant Ailevon Pacific, recently attended Routes Americas meeting with senior decision makers from the airlines. Over a dozen formal meetings and many more informal meetings were conducted with such airlines as Alaska, WestJet, United, and Southwest. Additional appointments were focused on potential new airlines such as Volaris, Aer Lingus and Porter as we plan for future airport expansion including the addition of a Customs and Border Protection facility.
As the airline industry continues to experience a string of incidents, legal problems and quality perceptions with Boeing are mounting. U.S. air carriers have warned that their plans to increase capacity were in doubt due to more jet delivery delays from Boeing as the hit to the airline industry from the plane maker’s safety crisis worsens. Boeing has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny following a harrowing January 5 Alaska Airlines mid-air panel blowout that led to probes into the company's safety and quality standards in its production process. Alaska Airlines has said its 2024 capacity estimates are "in flux" due to federal scrutiny of Boeing. United Airlines said it asked Boeing to stop building planes not yet certified by the FAA. Southwest Airlines said it cut its capacity forecast, citing fewer Boeing deliveries than expected.
Despite this, PSP demand is starting out strong in 2024, with January total passengers down only 1.4% despite 67 flight cancellations related to the 737 MAX 9 grounding. February passenger count was up 2.3% in total passengers compared to 2023.
PSP load factor was 81% for November 2023 and projected to be 79% for December, with full-year 2023 projected to be 78%. January 2024 load factor is projected to be 75%.
After several years of consistent growth, PSP’s January to April 2024 seat capacity is projected to be only slightly down by 1% versus the same time frame in 2023.
To learn more about PSP's achievements and milestones, insights into their plans for the future, and more, you can view their 2023 Annual Report.
Below is the latest data for PSP. Click HERE or the image below to view the multiple-page PDF report.
If you have any questions about air service, please contact:
Gary Orfield, Director of Tourism Development
gary@visitgreaterps.com | 760.969.1335
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