MichiganRadio

Passenger Traffic Declines at Detroit Metro Airport ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Passenger traffic at Detroit Metropolitan Airport fell almost 11 percent in 2009 from the year before.

More than 31 million passengers arrived at or departed from Detroit Metro last year.

That's nearly 4 million fewer than in 2008.

Michael Conway is the airport spokesman. says the culprit is clearly the economy:

"This recession, obviously, is about as bad as it's ever been since the Great Depression, when there really wasn't any commercial aviation," Conway says. "I have records in my office that go back to 1984, and we've never had a decline like this."

Conway says people are spending less money in the terminals for news and gift items, and on food and beverages. Parking and rental car services have also taken a hit. Revenues from those services help operate and maintain the airport.
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