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Corporate Super Bowl Flights Were Thin But TIA Stayed Busy

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: February 13, 2009

TAMPA - As predicted, the nation's economic malaise took its toll on corporate air travel to Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, when 220 corporate planes used Tampa International Airport compared with about 420 for Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa in 2001.

An estimated 33,000 people departed Tampa International Airport on commercial flights the day after the game, a Monday when the airport normally would handle about 20,000 departing passengers, airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said.

Super Bowl merchandise sales at the airport just topped $1 million, compared with $1.3 million in 2001.

The good news? "Everything went smoothly," airport director Louis Miller said.

Airport officials prepared special ground aircraft control operations that got 127 of the 220 corporate aircraft out of TIA within two hours after special security measures were lifted at 11 p.m. on Feb. 1.

The Transportation Security Administration had all 27 of the airport's passenger security lanes in operation at the main terminal during the busiest periods. The TSA used its 600 employees assigned to the airport, plus 50 from Orlando International Airport and special security teams, said Gary Milano, who heads TSA operations in the Tampa Bay area.

Super Bowl traffic also declined at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, spokeswoman Michele Routh said.

The airport reported 135 aircraft parked on the ground at game time compared to 150 aircraft during the 2001 Super Bowl, down 10 percent.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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