MOUNT VERNON — Despite record fuel prices which are driving up the costs of flying and contributing to the demise of Columbus-based discount airline Skybus, the high prices are not affecting the local airport.
Marla Elliot, manager at the Knox County Airport, said use of the airport, especially business use, has not been affected by the higher costs of fuel.
“Businesses are going to fly; it’s just the cost of doing business,” she said.
However, Elliot said it may be too soon to know how high costs will affect the airport in terms of recreational flyers.
“They may cut back a bit,” she said, “but I don’t think it’s going to be a devastating thing.”
Corporations with interests in the area make use of the Knox County Airport, as well as private flyers. Private flyers make up the majority of people using the airport, in terms of the number of people flying, according to Elliot.
“As far as the amount of people, it would be recreational [flyers]; as far as from the standpoint of gallons sold, by far, business [flyers],” she said.
For example, she said, a recreational pilot may buy 15 to 20 gallons of fuel at a time, while a business or corporation might buy 300 to 1,000 gallons at one time.
Some corporations that use the airport regularly, according to Elliot, are Ariel Corp. and Jeld-Wen. Elliot also said the Kenyon College Trustees and parents of Kenyon students make regular use of the airport, too.
Elliot said that according to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Knox County Airport had 20,150 operations in 2007. An operation is either a takeoff or a landing.
