Airport breaks passenger record

PUNTA GORDA — Punta Gorda Airport reported a record number of passengers passed through its gates in March, reflecting a strong tourism season.

The Charlotte County airport reported 121,695 passengers passed through its gates in March, a 31% increase over the same month one year ago. Notably, March 2015 was the previous record, with 93,171 passengers.

The Charlotte County Airport Authority, which recently expanded its terminal, reported that March's increase was the 29th consecutive month of year-over-year monthly passenger growth. “This is a great sign of the community's economic progress,” says Paul Andrews, chairman of the authority, in a statement.