Sets All-Time Record With 15 Percent More July Traffic

Despite the generally gloomy current economic outlook for airlines, at least one commercial airport is flying high. The Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) tells ANN it is celebrating a new monthly record -- with 149,757 passengers traveling to/from CAK in the month of July, crushing the old record by 5,541 passengers (set in July 2005).

Compared to the same month last year, the airport hosted 20,005 more passengers in July 2008; a 15.4% increase. Year-to-date more than 837,000 travelers have used the airport compared to 802,442 last year, a 4.3 percent increase. The monthly record marks the best month in our 62-year history.

"This is the equivalent of winning eight Olympic gold medals for us," said Kristie VanAuken, director of marketing and communications. "We are committed to offering what customers want most; low fares and an exceptional customer experience in a sparkling clean facility. We are thrilled that Northeast Ohio travelers are finding CAK a better way to go."

Additional service and fuller flights were two major reasons for the increase. Frontier Airlines and AirTran Airways each posted their best months ever at CAK. Frontier Airlines had an increase of 51.9 percent compared to last year while AirTran Airways increased by nearly 12 percent. What's more, AirTran Airways welcomed more than 65,000 total passengers to/from CAK.

Other sizable increases were posted by US Airways Express (47 percent), Northwest Airlink (19 percent) and United Express (12.2 percent).

Akron-Canton Airport kicked off CAK 2018, its 10-year, $110-million Capital Improvement in March of this year. The plan is the most ambitious in the airport's 62-year history. Projects include a 600 ft. runway extension allowing full-sized jets to reach the west coast, Caribbean and Mexico. Other projects include a customs and border patrol facility, an extended upper level concourse and the construction of Port Green, an industrial park that could bring more than 1,000 high paying jobs to northeast Ohio.

FMI: www.akroncantonairport.com