From Staff Reports

Overall air passenger traffic numbers for October 2024 plunged 53 percent in comparison to October 2023, according to a Dec. 13 report released by the Asheville Regional Airport.  

The nosedive marked a decline of more than 128,000 passengers for the month. 

The decline was a direct “result of Hurricane Helene,”  airport President and CEO Lew Bleiweis wrote in a memo to the board.

The month also saw 97 flight cancellations.

What’s more, airport spokesperson Tina Kinsey told the Asheville Citizen Times on Dec. 23, “Estimates show that we will not break 2023 passenger numbers in 2024, due solely to the impacts of Helene.”

The newspaper added, “Despite the storm, the airport still expects 2024 to be its second busiest on record, Kinsey said.”

“If not for Helene, 2024 was likely going to be the airport’s busiest year on record. In 2023, passenger numbers soared to an all-time high, with 2.2 million passengers passing through the airport, a 22 percent increase over 2022. For fiscal year 2025, ‘enplanements’ at the airport — meaning the total number of passengers who have boarded planes — declined 11.2 prcent, so far. Fiscal year 2025 started in July 2024 and ends in June 2025,” the ACT noted.

Meanwhile, Chapel Hill-based NPR radio station WUNC-FM reported on Dec. 13, “Flights to and from Asheville operated at about 46 percent capacity in October 2024, compared with about 81 percent capacity a year earlier.”  

From Staff Reports

Despite concerted efforts to roll out holiday activities in downtown Asheville to attract shoppers, Hayden Plemmons, executive dirctor of the Asheville Downtown Association, recently revealed that downtown foot traffic in December was down 20 percent from last year, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Jan. 3.

Indeed, Plemmons told News 13 that, with the momentum of the holiday season behind them, businesses in Asheville are once again at risk of experiencing the lack of foot traffic and revenue brought on by Tropical Storm Helene, which ravaged the area on Sept. 27.

“In spite of Helene, downtown Asheville saw a busy holiday season with several events to bring in customers and visitors from around the area,” the TV station stated, despite Plemmons’ claim of a major decline in foot traffic. News 13 also did not explain what method Plemmons used to determine the 20 percent decline.

“Officials now say it is crucial to continue to host events and get the word out about bringing business to the area,” News 13 stated.
“Approximately 2,100 people participated in the ‘Shop Small, Win Big’ contest that encouraged visitors to do their holiday shopping at local businesses.

The Holiday Jamboree was also a success, bringing in a large turnout despite the event shifting from the usual parade celebration, Plemmons told News 13.

From Staff Reports

An updated and revised unemployment rate for October 2024 — released recently by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce — revealed that Buncombe County’s rate was higher than the chamber had first reported a few weeks ago.

“The latest updated figures show the unemployment rate for October 2024, the month immediately following when Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina, was 10.4 percent, instead of the previously reported 8.8 percent,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Jan. 3.

“Buncombe’s rate in October was the highest in the state, but for November (also based on numbers released by state chamber), it dropped to 7.2 percent, which was the second-highest in the state, topped  Mitchell byCounty, which had a rate of 8.9 percent.

“But Buncombe County still had the state’s highest rate for a metropolitan city, Asheville, which had a rate of 6.1 percent. The lowest metropolitan city rate was Wilmington at 3 percent.”

News 13 also noted thjat, statewide, “unemployment rates, which are not seasonally adjusted, increased in 85 counties in November 2024, decreased in 12 (including Buncombe County) and remained unchanged in three.

“While Mitchell County had the highest November unemployment rate at 8.9 percent, Orange and Currituck counties each had the lowest at 2.9 percent. Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases — and one decreased.”

From Staff Reports

FLAT ROCK — The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site  — after being closed since Sept. 27 due to damage it sustained from Tropical Storm Helene — has partially open for hiking, but a number of facilities remain closed.

“The hikers’ lot with access to most grounds and trails was opened to public access on Dec. 23, as part of a phased re-opening at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site at 81 Carl Sandburg Lane” in Flat Rock, the Hendersonville Times-News reported on Dec. 23.

Specififally, the popular Glassy Mountain and Little Glassy Mountain trails are open.

Meanwhile, Carl Sandburg Home Superintendent Polly Angelakis told Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) on Dec. 26 the following:

 “This is an extremely important detail: The Sandburg Home isn’t reopening... only the hikers’ lot, grounds and trails are open,” Angelakis told News 13 on Dec. 26.

Also now available in the garage near the Sandburg Home are videos, passport stamps, bark ranger information and junior ranger booklets.

From Staff Reports

EAST FLAT ROCK — The leaders and parents at an East Flat Rock daycare center that closed at 5 p.m. Dec. 20 said they were feeling more of the Christmas spirit after all of the families found slots and employees found jobs at other childcare facilities in the area, the Hendersonville Lightning reported on Dec 18.

Other facilities were also grateful to receive equipment and supplies from Tomorrow’s Hope Child Development Center, Director Terry Maybin told the Lightning.

“We’re just saying God was in this,” Maybin was quoted as saying by the Lightning. “It’s much better than we thought” it would be. “I’m sleeping better now because everyone is going somewhere.”

The newspaper added, “After it received an eviction notice in early November from Hope United Methodist Church, the (daycare) center, which has been operating in East Flat Rock for the past 25 years, notified parents that it would close on Dec. 31. The church, on Spartanburg Highway at West Blue Ridge Road, had leased a building to Tomorrow’s Hope.

“After it received th eviction notice, Maybin was concerned that parents of the 32 children remaining at the center would not have time to find other daycare operations in Henderson County.

“But she said this week (mid-December) that all (of) the children and daycare workers had found opportunities at other facilities.