Small airport rides boom in passenger traffic

PUNTA GORDA — Punta Gorda Airport reported a record number of passengers passed through its terminal in March.

The Charlotte County Airport Authority says 93,171 passengers passed through the airport in March, a 21% increase over the same month one year ago.

The growth of the airport is due to its single commercial carrier, Allegiant Air. The discount airline flies nonstop to 24 destinations from Punta Gorda.

Because of the increase in passenger traffic, the airport is currently expanding the 16,000-square-foot terminal to 56,000 square feet. Since passenger traffic resumed at the airport in 2007, more than 2.1 million passengers have passed through the terminal.

“The passenger growth is indicative of an improving economy in our community and our region,” says Paul Andrews, chairman of the authority, in a statement.