July numbers are in and as expected, the results are
spectacular. SMF handled
1,081,028 passengers last month. That’s nearly
675,000 more than July of 2020 (up over 165%) and
over 90% of July 2019’s record count.
It marks the first month with over 1,000,000 pax since the December 2019, shattering all expectations for passenger growth in a still locked-down economic environment.
Biggest winner was Hawaiian Airlines, which was
up ~2400% (an A332 will do that…).
United Airlines was
up over 500%.
Alaska Airlines was
up about 500%
Lowest increase was at Spirit, which increased YoY a mere 88%. Spirit, with its emphasis on leisure routes, was among the first airlines to return to the skies in large numbers.
While Jet Blue only carried about 10,000 pax, it is notable because last July Jet Blue carried…
zero.
Southwest remains SMF’s largest carrier with 516,383, or nearly 48% of the total count. Even with the huge base number, Southwest was
up ~129% from last year.
American remains SMF’s #2 carrier at just under 120,000.
International traffic continues its fantastic rebound with Volaris continuing to lead the way with 17,654 (up over 80%). AeroMexico enjoyed a huge gain of 159% with its daily service to Guadalajara.
Southwest continues to pack’em in on it’s 2x/weekly flights to Cabo with
loads of better than 85%.
As noted previously, July is typically the highest traffic month at SMF and we should expect to see counts taper off until next summer. Already, I see weekly flight counts dropping into the 1020-1030 range, down from a peak in the 1030-1040 range in July.
SMF remains the fourth busiest airport in California.
Speaking of international traffic, the return of Air Canada service to Vancouver remains loaded in the schedule. I had been a bit concerned because several markets had been cut or reduced in the schedule loaded over weekend. SMF-YVR remains 1x/day, 7x/week starting 10/31.
My most recent trip to SMF last week found it once again packed in Concourse B. Southwest alone had nine jets at gates upon my afternoon arrival and the energy reflected that high count. While I believe all gates at SMF are officially common use, Southwest has priority on 10, so having nine occupied is a busy afternoon.
Most encouraging was that of the 24 retail/F&B concessions available, all but three were open for business. Those three being the Escape Lounge, Brighton, and (surprisingly) Peet’s Coffee (I had thought Peet’s stayed open well into the day).
My flight up had two open seats in the front cabin. I counted two additional open seats in main. Assuming I didn’t miss anyone gives a load factor of about 95%, which is good under any conditions for an afternoon, weekday flight.
While I won’t throw anyone under the jet, there was an unmistakably more “relaxed” attitude re masking. No rules/laws broken, but no fervent enforcement about it either, particularly when eating/drinking. Maybe crews are growing weary of enforcing ineffective policy as well.
Elsewhere, Southwest recently released May 2021 traffic numbers and the number one market for SMF is Las Vegas with 52,234 seats filled out of 62,474 seats available for a load factor (LF) of about 84%.
The rest of Southwest's top five out of SMF were:
2) San Diego – 51,438, 85% LF (SMF is Southwest’s #1 market out of San Diego)
3) Phoenix – 45,103, 87% LF
4) Orange County – 39,653, 82% LF
5) Denver – 36,355, 85% LF
By LF, the top five markets for SMF were:
1) Dallas (Love) – 94%
2) Houston (Hobby) – 90%
3) Honolulu – 90%
4) Chicago (Midway) – 90%
5) Austin – 89%
Lowest load factor is in the highly competitive SMF-LAX market at 76%.
Couple of notes I found interesting. SMF is Honolulu’s #2 market (LF) @ 90% and Maui’s #1 market @ 87%.
Hawaii is such a freaking strong market for Sacramento…
Southwest served 21 cities out of SMF in May 2021.
Note sure what’s so “fair” about it. I invite anyone to point-out the Qanon (not even sure what a “Qanon” is) conspiracy, or any other conspiracy, I’ve been posting.
I have not said the following:
1) The COVID virus is a hoax.
If you have evidence that I have said the virus is a hoax, please show it. Otherwise, stfu.
I have said the following:
1) The virus originated in China.
Is that wrong? Did it originate elsewhere? Please enlighten me if yes.
2) Typical masks are at this point theater and provide no additional protection again the virus.
Those aren’t just my words, those are the words of University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Director Michael Osterholm, who is a key advocate of the administration’s policies and regularly appears on CNN and MSNBC to support CDC directives.
On August 2nd, 2021, Dr Osterholm told CNN that cloth or paper masks “don’t work to stop the spread of the disease.” He instead said that to be effective, the N95 masks are required. You may disagree with the good doctor, but that’s what he said. So we’ve spent the last year and a half forcing passengers to wear masks that don’t actually stop spread of the disease,
yet we’ve had not a single outbreak tied to domestic air travel. So yeah, I’m skeptical.
Although it appears now that the TSA is extending the mask requirement (the same masks Dr Osterholm says provide no protection against the spread of the virus) into the new year, perhaps the “relaxed” attitude gains traction and flights become more enjoyable again instead of something the US Marshalls might provide.
3) Get vaccinated.
The previous administration spent billions of dollars to develop effective vaccines and bring them to market in record time. While I think it should be an individual’s choice, and I am not going to ostracize, nor attempt to “other” those who for whatever reason choose not to get vaccinated (some of those reasons are perfectly legitimate),
I know that if I am vaccinated, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does.
I’ll also note that one of the largest unvaccinated groups are African-Americans. Given the tragic history of race-based medical experimentation in our country (think Tuskegee), I can understand the hesitancy among that group toward any government-mandated shots. Any type of vaccine passport demand or similar “othering” for the unvaccinated results in de-facto discrimination against African-Americans. Amusing and ironic how the clown who squeals loudest against racism here seems to be a devout follower of a policy that results in
precisely that.
In 2020, the overwhelming reason for the catastrophic plunge in air travel was fear of the COVID virus. Let’s be clear, that fear was completely justified as we were being told that 2,000,000 Americans were going to die in 2020 due to COVID. While that projection turned out to be a lie, the fear it generated was absolutely real and people stayed away from airports because of it.
Fast forward to summer of 2021 and that fear has disappeared for about 85% of the air-traveling public. At SMF, in July,
more than 90% of previous travelers rejected the fear. That’s why they’re flying now. That’s not any “conspiracy.” That is a FACT. Sorry not sorry you can’t deal. Would be lovely if you exercised your right to remain silent about it here though...
Our Wuhan Cyclist friend seems to suffer from some kind of viral Tourettes, seemingly unable to control his outbursts… “
Mutter mutter mutter… COVID!
Mutter mutter mutter HOAX!
Mutter mutter mutter… CONSPIRACY!”
This may be amusing in the way a child’s protests can be, but it quickly loses its charm. So while his widdle tantrums may help him become the prettiest boi at the Twitter prom, I’d prefer he leave that mindless crap there and not infect this thread with it.
Unlikely as that is (Tourette is so
cruel), we can all hope. And remember what Andy said to Red about hope…
My next flight is on Alaska’s new service to Santa Barbara this weekend.
Can’t wait…
Happy flying everyone!
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