RDU Air Traffic Down Less Than Expected

In any other time, a three-point-four percent drop in passenger traffic would cause worry for officials at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

However, in the wake of the September eleventh terrorist attacks and the shutdown of Midway Airlines, R.D.U. officials are pleased with the news.

The 195 daily departures is down from a peak of 326 over the summer. But airport director John Brantley says airline bookings through the winter holiday season continue to be strong with few cancellations.

Departing traffic is down by about 150,000 passengers compared with the first ten months of last year. About four-point-two million passengers flew out of R.D.U. between January and October

R.D.U. marketing director Teresa Damiano says passenger traffic had been so strong going into the summer that the end-of-the-year figures won't look as grim.