=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/10/27/s= tate1058EDT0037.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, October 27, 2004 (AP) McCarran Airport reports soaring passenger traffic in September (10-27) 07:58 PDT LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport soared again in September, with almost 3.4 million passengers arriving and departing during the month. Despite questions about airline financial problems, Clark County Aviation Director Randall Walker said Tuesday the strength of Las Vegas hotels, casinos and trade shows helped airport traffic rise 14.7 percent from the 2.95 million passengers it handled in September 2003. The nation's seventh-busiest airport remained on pace to handle 40 milli= on arriving and departing passengers this year, well above its record of nearly 36.9 million set in 2000. But Walker said he was concerned that rising jet fuel prices could depre= ss future traffic. Some of McCarran's largest carriers are struggling. United Airlines, Las Vegas' third-busiest airline with 2.4 million passengers through September, has been in bankruptcy protection for 22 months. It could be joined in bankruptcy by fourth-ranked Delta Air Lines, which has handled 2.08 million McCarran passengers this year, and US Airways, with a dozen daily departures from McCarran. Second-ranked America West reported a net loss Wednesday of $47.1 million during the third quarter of 2004, or $1.30 per share. The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier cited rising fuel costs for its first loss in more than a year. Southwest Airlines, McCarran's top carrier with 9.75 million passengers this year, said this month its fourth-quarter revenue could decline from a year ago because of fuel costs and excess capacity. McCarran has survived large-scale airline cutbacks and closures, includi= ng the November 2002 shutdown of Las Vegas-based National Airlines, which carried about 6 percent of the city's air passengers that year. Walker said he was confident other carriers would step in if airlines reduce or eliminate Las Vegas flights. "Our traffic would come back, but it would take a while as smaller carriers grew their airlines, added aircraft and staff," he said. Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, www.lvrj.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP