Salisbury Airport Sees 20 Percent Drop In Traffic

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) -- The Eastern Shore's air center set a traffic record in 2012 with 150,000 commercial passengers, but economic development officials say traffic is down so far this year after the departure of one of two airlines.

The Daily Times reports that commercial air passenger traffic at Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport was down 20 percent through the end of August. U.S. Department of Transportation collected though the end of May showed nearly 50,000 passengers arriving and departing. The figure at the same point in 2012 was 62,000.

Less than a year after debuting the service, Allegiant Airlines canceled its low-cost flights between Salisbury and Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 5. US Airways, operating as US Airways Express through Piedmont Airlines, has been the exclusive carrier ever since.

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