LIHU‘E — The number of people getting off domestic flights at Lihu‘e Airport dipped in March, despite some daily totals that haven’t been seen in months at the transportation facility.
A total of 76,069 passengers off-boarded domestic flights in March, compared with 77,647 in March 2022, according to data compiled by the state Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism.
That marked the second straight month the passenger count was lower than the same period a year earlier, something that did not happen in 2022. But the traffic at the airport was still considered hefty.
“The numbers you are looking at are comparable to the pre-pandemic peak,” said Peter Fuleky, an economist with The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai‘i. “The point is, we are looking at very healthy numbers.”
The March count was fueled by a number of days in which pver 3,000 passengers off-boarding domestic flights. That happened four times last month, with the highest total — 3,135 passengers — recorded on Saturday, March 18.
Prior to March, the last time a daily total exceeded 3,000 passengers was during the Christmas season, when 3,011 passengers off-boarded domestic flights on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022.
While the passenger count slipped in March, the numbers are up for the first quarter of the year. A total of 194,038 passengers off-boarded domestic flights in the three-month period ended March 31, compared with 191,934 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2022.
Of note, the passenger totals only count direct domestic flights, include Kaua‘i residents returning home, and exclude visitors arriving by inter-island air.
While the solid start to the year was due in large part to a record-setting count in January, it could prove difficult to stay ahead or keep pace with last year’s total.
The passenger count ended up at a record 910,558 for the 12-months ended Dec. 31, 2022. The previous high of 772,705 was set in 2018, followed by 770,934 in 2019, department data showed.
Economic factors, such as inflation and rising interest rates, could weigh heavily on would-be travelers as the year progresses.
“We might not see as many visitors from the mainland this year,” Fuleky said.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
