SRQ president and CEO predicting total of 3 million passengers served by end of this year
In November, 321,643 passengers traveled through the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), the airport has announced, compared to 106,195 passengers in November 2020.
The new November figure “represents an increase of 203% and is the second highest passenger month in the history of SRQ,” a news release points out. “Passengers traveling through the airport year-to-date total 2,816,275.”
Through June, SRQ staff announced, the airport had broken its monthly passenger record with a count of 312,909. That total was 112% higher than the 147,615 passengers counted in June 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the staff noted in a press release. (See the related article in this issue.)
Then in July, the number of passengers exceeded the June total. The July figure was 326,947. That remains the highest count so far this year, according to data the staff has released.
In August, the airport broke its all-time calendar year record of 2,010,304 passengers, which was set in 1990, it reported. The total through August was 2,034,538.
“Airlines continue to add and resume seasonal flights,” the latest release notes. This week, Allegiant began new nonstop service to Tulsa, Okla., and Washington, D.C.; Delta restarted seasonal service to Minneapolis and Detroit; and JetBlue resumed service to Newark, the release adds.
In January 2022, the airport will welcome a new airline, Avelo, with nonstop service to New Haven, Conn.; and in March 2022, Allegiant will begin new nonstop service to Akron-Canton, Ohio, and Appleton, Wis., the release says.
“These new and returning services are expected to propel the airport” past the 3-million passenger mark for the year, “with projections for a very busy 2022,” the release points out.
“With the Christmas and New Year holidays fast approaching, we again want to remind travelers to take a little extra time getting to the airport,” Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, pointed out in the release.
“We recommend you arrive two hours before departure, check to ensure your flight is on-time, and make sure your carry-on and checked baggage is TSA compliant,” he added in the release, referring to the Transportation Security Administration.
“Our aim is to make your travel through SRQ as stress-free and enjoyable as possible,” Piccolo said.