T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationthe Airport “remains relatively competitive for Southern New England passengers due to the airport'sconvenience, ease of use, low parking rates, and relatively lower air fares on key routes.” 49The efficiency of the New England Regional Airport System depends in part on the ability of the regional airports,especially T.F. Green and Manchester Airports, to minimize leakage to Logan Airport to the greatest extentpractical. This is consistent with the Logan Airport Airside Improvements Planning Project EIS 50 , FAA’s Record ofDecision on the Logan Airport Airside Improvements Planning Project EIS 51 , and the NERASP. 522.2.2.4 Examples of Current Leakage from T.F. Green Airport to Logan AirportSpecific markets at T.F. Green Airport that have experienced leakage are West Coast destinations. Evidence ofleakage has occurred when non-stop service 53 to these markets (particularly service by LCCs) was started fromLogan Airport. Currently, all air travel from T.F. Green Airport to West Coast markets requires an airportconnection, 54 which increases travel time for passengers.To demonstrate the occurrence of leakage, the historical origin and destination (O&D) traffic between T.F. GreenAirport and representative examples of the highest O&D markets on the West Coast (the Los Angeles area,San Francisco Bay area, and Seattle) was examined. O&D traffic represents the beginning “origin” and final“destination” of air passengers, regardless of any airline connections in between. O&D passenger traffic betweenT.F. Green Airport and all of the West Coast markets show an increase in passengers starting in 1997, whichcorresponds with the introduction of LCC service at the Airport by Southwest Airlines. T.F. Green Airport O&Ddata between 1993 and 2010 were evaluated and is described in the following sections for representative WestCoast markets. O&D data between T.F. Green Airport and Las Vegas (the farthest non-stop destination currentlyserved from T.F. Green Airport) were also evaluated to determine the leakage potential when all three eastern NewEngland region airports offer non-stop LCC service to the same destination (of relatively long distance).Although there are a number of reasons for overall fluctuations in passenger traffic (such as national economicconditions), passenger traffic between T.F. Green Airport and these markets reduced dramatically when newnonstop service was introduced from Logan Airport by LCCs. It is important to note that the ease of access toLogan Airport was improved in 2003 with the opening of the Ted Williams Tunnel connection to Interstate 90.Although ease of access is a consideration in the choice of airline service and airports in a multi-airport region,both business and leisure passengers consider the availability of non-stop flights one of the most important factorsin choosing airline service. 55This analysis with data through 2010 shows a continuation of the same trend that was documented in the DEIS(with data through 2009). The connecting passengers between T.F. Green Airport and the specific West Coast49 Moody’s revises from negative to stable the outlook on Rhode Island Airport’s revenue bonds; A2 rating affirmed. Moody’s Investors Service, April 6, 2010.50 Logan International Airport Airside Improvements Planning Project EIS, Boston, Massachusetts; FAA, New England Region; 2002.51 Record of Decision; Airside Improvements Planning Project; Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts; FAA, New England Region, August 2, 2002, page 6.52 The New England Regional Airport System Plan, New England Airport Coalition, Fall 2006, page 30.53 Non-stop service includes any flight that does not have intermediate stops. Non-stop airline service reduces travel times, which is an important factor inbusiness and leisure passenger behavior.54 A connecting flight includes an intermediate stop at another airport, where the passenger may have to change planes.55 Passenger Passenger Air Service Development Techniques, Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 18, Transportation Research Board (TRB),2009.Chapter 2 – Purpose and Need 2-11 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH02_P&N_JUL_2011.doc