When the number of people flying in and out of Erie International Airport rises, it's hailed as good news for Erie's economy.

When traffic declines, it's an equally bad sign.

That's why today's Erie Times-News story reporting that passenger traffic was down by 14.2 percent at the airport in 2006 is an indicator that all is not well with Erie's economy.

Some of that drop is surely the result of the turbulent conditions in the airline industry. Cash-strapped airline companies did cut some flights in and out of ERI last year.

Some of it was also the result of higher gas prices, which cut into budgets.

But we can't neglect the fact that travel was also down because Erie is struggling economically.

When high-wage employers like Steris Corp. announce that they are leaving town, its workers (many of whom might have flown out of the airport for vacations) cut back. When you're worried about paying your mortgage, you don't take that vacation.

And don't forget Rent-Way Inc., which based its corporate headquarters in Erie.

Rent-Way execs were heavy users of Erie International. The company had operations all over the country, and its top people were constantly jetting in and out of Erie for business.

With Rent-Way gone, so are those passengers.

Now Erie International has been a great local success story during the past five years. It rebounded gamely from the 2001 terrorist attacks -- setting traffic records nearly every year along the way.

Hope is also high that a longer runway and a new relationship with an airport in Germany will fuel more growth.

But those who care about Erie's economy have to be worried about that 14.2 percent drop.