Passenger Numbers Up More Than 10% at PTI

The number of people flying from Piedmont Triad International Airport has continued a strong pattern of growth through the first quarter of 2018, and at least one airline is responding with more service.

“Passenger numbers continue to increase,” Kevin Baker, the airport’s executive director, told airport authority members at the Board’s regular monthly meeting May 22. “We had an increase in passengers of more than 10 percent in April of this year over the same month last year,” Baker said. “That is very good news.

“Year to date – that is through the first four months of the year – we have seen healthy passenger growth at PTI of more than 6 percent over the same period last year.”

In this environment of increased demand, United Airlines announced last week that the airline will add capacity to Newark Liberty International Airport beginning in October.

The new service brings to five the number of daily flights to Newark and will increase monthly seats to Newark by about 30 percent.

“If the trend in passenger growth continues, we hope to see more announcements like this one,” Baker told the Board.