May airport traffic shatters prior year

Number of passengers up even as flights slightly decline.

By Business Observer Staff
| 5:50 a.m. June 22, 2018
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

FORT MYERS — Passenger movement through Southwest Florida International Airport in May 2018 shattered figures from the same month in 2017, with 668,665 travelers representing a 6.3% increase. The record month contributed to a year-to-date increase of 5.4% over the same period last year, according to a statement.

Delta Air Lines led the month with 177,028 passengers traveling to and from the airport. Delta was followed by Southwest Airlines with 142,848 passengers, American Airlines at 107,568, JetBlue with 83,980 and United Airlines at 75,026, the release adds.

Passengers increased in year-over-year comparisons despite a decrease in aircraft operations. Arrivals and departures were down 2% at 5,806. About 2.75 million pounds of air freight moved through Southwest Florida International Airport in May 2018 compared to 2.55 million in May 2017.

One of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic, Southwest Florida International served more than 8.8 million passengers in 2017.