PORTLAND — Portland International Jetport's passenger traffic grew by nearly 12 percent during the fiscal year that ended June 30, a time when airlines are shedding jobs and reducing the number of flights, airport officials said Wednesday.
More than 1.7 million passengers flew in or out of the jetport during the period, eclipsing the previous record of more than 1.5 million passengers in fiscal 2007 and making Portland the fastest growing airport in New England, according to figures compiled from data from airlines.
In addition, the jetport reported 14 consecutive record months since May 2007.
City officials linked much of the gain to the addition of low-cost carriers Air Tran and JetBlue, which offer flights to Orlando, Fla., Baltimore and New York. The added flights have led to increased competition and lower airfares, officials said.
"This year has been a banner year for the Portland Jetport," said City Manager Joe Gray. "Residents of the Greater Portland area have begun to see the jetport as a great affordable alternative to airports an hour or two hours drive away."
This was not always the case. A jetport study commissioned three years ago found that 41 percent of air travelers in the Greater Portland market area flew out of Boston's Logan International Airport, and 16 percent flew out of what is now Boston-Manchester Regional Airport in New Hampshire.
Only two of five travelers chose the airport closest to home.
Jetport Director Paul Bradbury said construction on a $60 million, five-gate terminal expansion could begin next summer if traffic figures remain stable. Construction of a new parking garage is moving forward, with portions expected to be open by the end of the year, he said.
"We are obviously encouraged by the numbers posted for this year and are cautiously optimistic" about future expansion plans, he said.
Portland's strong showing comes as airlines struggling with soaring fuel costs have raised fares and cut back flight schedules to cut losses.
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