Airport traffic points to recovery

FORT MYERS — More than 1.1 million passengers passed through Southwest Florida International Airport in March, a record month for the growing airport and further evidence of the economic recovery.

The March passenger record represents an 8.9% increase over the same month one year ago as airlines added more flights and larger planes. The number of takeoffs and landings also rose 5.2% in March compared with March 2012. Year to date, passenger traffic is up 7.5% compared with the first three months of last year.

“This March was the busiest month for passenger traffic at Southwest Florida International Airport since opening on May 14, 1983,” says Robert Ball, executive director of the Lee County Port Authority.