SRQ breaks airport's passenger record in March

The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport broke its passenger record in March, when it saw more than half a million passengers during a single month for the second time in its history.

In March 553,521 passengers traveled through the airport, according to a statement from SRQ, the airport’s call letters. The first time the airport saw more than 500,000 passengers fly through was also in March – in 2023 — the Business Observer previously reported. At that time, 514,889 travelers were counted among its passengers, so this year's data marked a 7.5% increase from March 2023.

March is typically the airport's busiest month due to the peak in spring break travelers, a spokesperson for SRQ tells the Business Observer.

News of the new record number of passengers comes after SRQ released its year-end passenger data, showing that 2023 was its busiest year in history, with 4.3 million passengers.

This year is looking to outpace 2023. So far, the 12-month activity through March 2024 shows 4.4 million passengers have traveled through SRQ, a 9% increase compared with the 4 million passengers for the 12 months leading up to March 2023.

“SRQ continues to reach a multitude of milestones,” Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport CEO Rick Piccolo says in a statement. “We are delighted to see the commitment of our passengers in choosing SRQ for their travel needs during this period of significant growth and expansion.”

The airport broke ground in 2023 on a new terminal that will encompass five gates as well as security checkpoints, restaurants and restrooms. It also plans baggage handling and parking expansion.

These capital projects are scheduled to be complete by 2025, according to sister publication YourObserver.com, which reports that SRQ currently serves 11 airlines, providing 32 nonstop year-round flights and 26 seasonal nonstop flights.