September traffic down at airport

September passenger numbers at Spokane International Airport fell 7.2 percent compared with 2007, taking them down to levels near those for the same month in 2005 and 2006.

A total 131,771 passengers embarked, compared with 141,921 a year ago.

The decline steepened a reduction for August, the first 2008 month in which there were fewer passenger boardings than for the same month in 2007.

But the 2.7 million boardings for the first nine months of 2008 remained 2.7 percent ahead of those for 2007.

Freight traffic also declined, by 9.5 percent, to 4,005.5 tons. The decrease for the first nine months of the year was 1.7 percent, to 39,596 tons.

At Felts Field, there were 7,680 aviation operations in September, up 14 percent over the same month in 2007.

Operations have fallen for the year, by 6.6 percent, to 52,684. Freight weighed in at 3.6 tons, off 71.6 percent from September 2007.

For the year, freight is off 24.8 percent to 41.7 tons.

Also at Spokane International, a new $14.1 million rental car facility opened Saturday.

Passengers get new covered wait areas, partially covered ready lots, and 231 more ready/return spaces, bringing the total to 586.

Cars will be washed and maintained in a 22,000-square-foot building that also includes office space.

Bert Caldwell

Coeur d’Alene

Bankcda earnings dip amid move

Moving expenses and lower non-interest income reduced bankcda third-quarter earnings compared with those for the 2007 quarter.

Net for the period ended Sept. 30 was $54,000, compared with $191,000 a year ago, said Chief Financial Officer Rob Stephens.

But assets increased 16 percent year-over-year, to $93 million; loans were up 15 percent, to $80 million; and deposits grew by 8 percent, to $71 million.

Bankcda relocated to 912 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d’Alene during the quarter, and completed its reorganization as a holding company – Coeur d’Alene Bancorp. becomes the corporate parent – on Oct. 1.

Stephens said bankcda was finding the secondary market for some types of loans slow, which hurt non-interest income.

President Max Faller said bankcda, which is privately owned, remains well-capitalized.

Bert Caldwell