Fort Myers airport traffic jumps 9%

FORT MYERS — Nearly one million passengers passed through Southwest Florida International Airport in February, reflecting a strong tourist season despite some early challenges.

The Lee County Port Authority reported 989,845 people passed through the Fort Myers airport in February, a 9.3% increase compared with the same month one year ago. For the first two months of this year, passenger traffic rose 8.4% compared with the first two months of 2015.

The increase in passenger traffic comes despite softness in the hotel business at the start of the year. For example, the occupancy rate at lodgings in the Fort Myers area fell 3.8% in January, according to the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, citing Smith Travel Research.