US. Passenger traffic at Orlando International Airport hit an all-time high this March, surpassing the previous record set in March 2001.
A total of 2,931,360 passengers used the airport in March, about 30,000 more than that in March 2001. Both domestic and international contributed to the rise, with the former growing +16.1% to a record 2,750,665 and the latter increasing +11.0% compared to the same time last year.
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority executive director CW Jennings said: “Traditionally, March is always one of our busiest months with Spring Break, Bike Week and other high-profile events in Central Florida. However, the latest passenger counts exceeded even our own expectations.”
Continental Airlines added nine flights weekly to Cleveland, Ohio, bringing the total to 28 flights weekly. United Airlines upped services to Washington’s Dulles International Airport by seven, to a total of 35.
Aeromexico now flies once more per week to Mexico City and AirTran Airways six more times a week to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the increased traffic also boosted the airport retail trade by an increase of +33.7% in February compared to last February. Food & beverage sales were up +15.7%, and rental car business +15.5%.
During 2003 concessions contributed over US$160 million to the Authority’s income, out of which general merchandise concession revenues and car parking were both stable, and food & beverage revenues halved in the year.
Authority spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said traffic is now showing signs of rivalling that of the annual record set in 2000, when 30.8 million passengers passed through the airport.
“We are one of the fastest growing airports in the country now. We are very encouraged by the traffic increases that we are seeing,” she said.
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Orlando posts +12.7% increase in passenger traffic – 10/03/04
