The Wyoming Department of Economic Analysis says that the state had fewer commercial airline passengers in 2011 than in 2010.
However, Casper/Natrona County International Airport Manager Glenn Januska says thatairlines that fly in and out of Wyoming have cut seats to ensure fuller, more profitable flights.
He says that unlike many areas, there is still plenty of demand in Wyoming, That’s a message he and others are trying to convey to the airlines.
"We understand your trends," he says, "but understand what’s happening in the state and make sure you’re not cutting too much capacity—to the point where the demand exceeds the capacity and we’re having to have people that drive to other airports to get a flight."
Januska is optimistic that the market for air travel in the state will continue to grow in 2012. He says 2011 was the third time in four years that the number of commercial airline passengers exceeded the one-million mark.
