John Wayne Airport has been a vital part of the Orange County community for nearly 100 years. We recognize our responsibility and take it very seriously. The Airport provides more than 33,000 jobs to local workers and brings billions of dollars to the local economy.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus has taken a serious toll on Airport operations, tenants and stakeholders. Since March 1, 2020, we have experienced a 60 percent decrease in passenger traffic compared to 2019, with a 90 percent decrease in just the last two weeks of March. These reductions are and will continue to have a severe impact on the Airport, as well as on the airlines, our shops and restaurants, rental car companies, and more.
We recently received encouraging news that the United States government has begun implementing the CARES Act, which will provide regulatory relief for airports along with other businesses and employees. The FAA has announced it will award approximately $10 billion in funds to airports through the CARES Act. It has not yet been determined when JWA will receive those funds, but they will be used to support our continuing operations
As you may know, John Wayne Airport is an essential service and we still have hundreds of employees working every day. We cannot begin to express our gratitude for their commitment and dedication. We have an outstanding team here at John Wayne Airport and we will continue to rise to the challenge in the days, weeks, and months to come.
We don’t know when this will end, but it will end, and we will get through it together. As a community, our smart decisions now will sustain us through this difficult time. We look forward to serving you again soon.
For more information on the CARES Act, we encourage you to visit the FAA for information on the funding available for airports. The Small Business Administration (SBA) also has a comprehensive guide with information to help small business owners better understand the programs that will be available, including the Paycheck Protection Program and Small Business Debt Relief.
Please be safe.
JWA Direct 