Airport sees passenger numbers increase 40%

SARASOTA — Sarasota Bradenton International Airport passenger traffic for April was up 40% over April 2018, with 183,119 passengers traveling through the airport.

Year-to-date passenger numbers are up 37.6%, according to a press release. 

Over the past 13 months, SRQ has added two new air carriers, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines, 23 new routes and 18 new destinations, including Asheville, N.C.; Baltimore; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Denver; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Indianapolis; Orlando Melbourne International Airport; Nashville; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Richmond, Va.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Traverse City, Mich.; and Washington, D.C.

There are now eight airlines providing nonstop service to 29 destinations at SRQ.

In addition to increased passenger traffic, the Florida Department of Transportation released an economic impact study this month that shows the SRQ has an annual economic impact of over $1.33 billion and generates over 12,000 jobs and a payroll exceeding $475 million.

“The FDOT study demonstrates that SRQ is a critical economic generator for the community and all these benefits come without the use of any local tax dollars," says President and CEO Rick Piccolo in the statement.