The post With air travel set to surge ahead of America 250, Florida cities projected to lag behind other major metros appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
—
The Independence Day holiday stretch is good for flying, but Florida metropolitan airports won’t be soaring as high as most other major cities.
Researchers with Luxury Link projected the metropolitan areas likely to see the biggest increases in arriving flights. Airports in four major Florida metropolitan areas will see significant increases in flights, but those locations weren’t near the top of the national rankings.
The study found business will pick up at Jacksonville International Airport and surrounding hubs during the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of independence. The First Coast metropolis was ranked No. 43 in the country for flight increases, the highest ranking for any Florida airport among 51 locations analyzed nationwide.
Jacksonville will see a 13.2% hike in arriving flights, which amounts to an average of 93.3 incoming aircraft per day for the holiday stretch. That’s up from the normal average of 82.4 arriving flights.
Tampa was No. 46 in the ranking with a projected 12.2% increase, accounting for some 265.4 daily arrivals, up from the usual 236.4. Orlando ranked No. 48 for a projected 11.1% bump, followed by Miami at No. 49 and an increase of 6%.
While it’s a positive gain for Sunshine State airports, they’re significantly outdistanced by most other metro areas on the list.
Seattle landed at the top of the study with arriving flights projected to increase by 28.1% during the holiday stretch followed by Portland with a 25.3% increase and Fresno, California, in third with a 23% uptick.
“The Fourth of July is one of the most significant travel periods of the year in the United States, combining a major national holiday with the peak of the summer vacation season,” the Luxury Link analysis concluded.
“With schools out across much of the country, many families use the holiday to take extended trips, visit relatives, or gather for celebrations. The result is a surge in travel activity that ripples through airports, hotels, restaurants, and tourism destinations nationwide.”
While the surge in flight arrivals is welcomed at air-travel hubs, the increased traffic also brings some downsides, such as delays and cancelations. Across the country, the study projected cancellations to jump by 121.5%, and delays lasting more than three hours will spike by 74.6%.
The post With air travel set to surge ahead of America 250, Florida cities projected to lag behind other major metros appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
