Airport trend shows area's rapid growth

When Southwest Florida International Airport opened in Fort Myers in 1984, it served 1.3 million passengers its first full year.

Now, for some perspective: In March, 1.1 million passengers passed through the airport.

Few would have forecast the area's growth 30 years ago. In fact, the airport's name was Southwest Florida Regional Airport and it would be 10 years before it would be renamed as an “international” airport.

The airport's 19 carriers now offer nonstop service to 40 destinations, including Dusseldorf, Germany, and three major Canadian cities: Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

Work has already begun on the airport's expansion, including the construction of a second runway. In 2012, more than 7.3 million passengers passed through the airport, making it one of the top 50 busiest airports in the U.S.