Punta Gorda passenger traffic spikes

PUNTA GORDA — More than 39,000 passengers passed through Punta Gorda Airport in November as discount airline Allegiant boosted service to the Charlotte County airport.

The November passenger numbers represent a 133% increase over the same month in 2012. So far this year through November, 282,837 passengers passed through Punta Gorda airport, a 29% increase over the same period last year, according to the Charlotte County Airport Authority.

Allegiant established a base of operations in Punta Gorda this summer and announced its 20th destination from Charlotte County's airport. It began flying to Punta Gorda in March 2009.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant flies tourists to Florida and other vacation destinations from underserved areas such as Allentown, Pa.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Youngstown, Ohio. In addition to Punta Gorda, Allegiant serves the Tampa Bay area with flights to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.