Calendar Year-to-Date Increase of 3.3 Percent
SAN JOSE, 2013-06-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is experiencing sustained passenger traffic growth in 2013, the result of more air service to the places Silicon Valley travelers want to go and an improving economy. Passenger traffic began a steady year-over-year increase in January 2013 with 0.9 percent, followed by +1.1 percent in February, and continuing into March and April – both +5.4 percent, for an overall calendar year-to-date increase of 3.3 percent.
May 2013 passenger numbers have not yet been published, however, the upward trend is expected to continue for that month and through the current calendar year. This is due to expanded air service choices for Silicon Valley travelers and their ability to travel for business and leisure due to an improving local economy. New airline service includes:
– Virgin America launched service with four daily flights between SJC and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on May 1, 2013;
– All Nippon Airways resumed service between SJC and Narita International Airport in Tokyo on June 1, 2013. The ANA Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights operate five days a week, with daily service planned in September 2013; and
– Delta Air Lines begins service between SJC and LAX with four daily flights on June 10, 2013. Delta offers four daily nonstop flights to LAX which it previously served from SJC in 2008. The carrier also offers nonstops from SJC to Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City.
“There are so many in our community I credit for this developing upward trend in passenger activity at Mineta San José International Airport,” said Director of Aviation Bill Sherry. “We appreciate our airlines for recognizing the value and incredible terminal experience SJC offers to their passengers. We thank Silicon Valley residents and businesses for using their hometown airport,and for contacting existing and potential new airlines about the destinations they want served from SJC. Public-private leadership by San José Mayor Chuck Reed and the Airport Competitiveness Committee, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, and San Jose
Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Mahood has been key to our growth. And, I am especially grateful to our employees for all they do everyday to make SJC a welcoming, safe, and pleasurable place for travelers.”
Other recent service increases at SJC include expanded service to Mexico on Alaska Airlines.
Alaska recently expanded both Guadalajara and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, flights to daily service from three-weekly and twice-weekly flights, respectively. The carrier also has had success at SJC with nonstop flights to the four main Hawaiian Islands – Honolulu, Kona, Lihue and Maui.
Silicon Valley travelers and businesses can help SJC in the region’s combined efforts to increase the choices available for flying from SJC by writing to the airlines to tell them where they want to fly!Community members can send the Airport a copy of communications to airlines at info@sjc.org, or mail to: SJC Air Service Development, 1701 Airport Blvd, Suite B-1130, San José, CA 95110.
About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is Silicon Valley’s airport, a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 8.3 million passengers in 2012, and offers approximately 125 daily flights on 13 domestic and international carriers to 30 nonstop destinations.
The airport’s $1.3 billion comprehensive modernization project, completed in 2010, makes SJC the most technologically advanced airport in the nation and the first terminal awarded LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability. Silicon Valley’s airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. Visit www.flysanjose.com/fl.
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