Ft. Myers (FL) Adds PAX Each Month

Passenger traffic at Southwest Florida International Airport has set a record for the sixth consecutive month. More than 443,000 passengers traveled through the airport during May, an increase of nearly 14 percent compared to May 2002, and 5.2 percent over May 2001. More than 3 million passengers have traveled through the airport year to date, an increase of 12.7 percent over the first five months of 2002.

Nationwide, passenger traffic is down an average of 5.9 percent for the month and 3.4 percent year to date, according to the Air Transport Association.

"This is the first time the airport has reached the 3 million-passenger milestone as early as May," said Robert M. Ball, A.A.E., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority. "Ongoing increases in passenger volume reinforce the need for the new terminal, which is on schedule to open in 2005."

Almost 2.6 million pounds of air cargo were moved through the airport during May, down 2 percent from May 2002. Year to date, air freight volume has decreased 4 percent.

Southwest Florida International Airport, which celebrated its 20th anniversary May 14, hit the 5 million passengers milestone in 2000, and hasn't looked back.

FMI: www.SWFIA.com