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September is usually the sleepiest month for Florida tourism.
That's when children go back to school and long before northern resident “snowbirds” return to winter homes in Florida. The threat of hurricanes and stifling humidity keep many visitors away, too.
So it's notable that four of five Gulf Coast airports showed big jumps in passenger traffic in September compared with the same month one year ago. It's a sign airlines are boosting the size of airplanes to accommodate what many expect to be another record tourism season in Florida this winter.
Passenger growth has been especially robust at smaller airports such as St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport, both served by fast-growing discount airline Allegiant.
But even Tampa International Airport, the biggest airport in the region, turned in a sizable 9.5% increase in passenger traffic in September. The airport reported a 19% jump in international passenger traffic, which has been a big priority for Tampa airport executives. The latest arrival: German carrier Lufthansa started nonstop service from Tampa to Frankfurt Sept. 25.
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