Airline company SkyWest is on target for its busiest year yet at Paducah’s Barkley Regional Airport.
Airport manager Richard Roof says the SkyWest/United Express passenger load for 2015 is going to be about 42,000 total arrivals and departures. That would surpass 2014's record year by around 1,000 passengers.
SkyWest has operated at Barkley Regional since Feburary 2010. Roof said further growth could move SkyWest to expand services at the airport. It currently operates two nonstop flights a day to Chicago.
“We obviously would like to see the traffic build to an extent that SkyWest would consider a third flight, but that’s going to take probably about another 30-35 percent increase," Roof said.
Meanwhile, Roof said a FEMA consultant recently conducted an in-depth study into the airport’s suitability in the event of a natural disaster in the region, finding that Barkley Regional can handle eight large Air Force cargo planes if needed.
