Discount airline boosts airport traffic

PUNTA GORDA — Allegiant Air boosted passenger traffic at Punta Gorda Airport by 25.7% in June compared with the same month a year ago.

Allegiant is Punta Gorda's sole commercial carrier and operates nonstop flights to 30 destinations. Most recently, Allegiant announced nonstop jet service to Concord Regional Airport in the Charlotte, N.C., metro area beginning Oct 5.

The airline specializes in flying people from regional airports in the Midwest and Northeast such as Columbus, Ohio, and Niagara Falls, N.Y., to tourism destinations such as Southwest Florida.