Airport sees increase in month-to-month passenger traffic

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport saw passenger volume rise 12.4 percent in May when compared to April.

The gain marked the eighth time in the past nine months that passenger traffic has increased.

May’s volume, however, was up only 0.33 percent in comparison to the same month last year. The airport said frequent thunderstorms prevented a larger traffic gain this year.

April’s passenger volume in fact was down 1 percent from the year before because of storms affecting flights to and from Atlanta.

“We are pleased to see this positive trend continue into 2017,” Timothy T. Bradshaw, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, said in a statement. “The demand of passengers utilizing the airport is a critical factor when speaking with airlines regarding increasing air service to our market.”

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport moves more than 600,000 passengers annually on four airlines (American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air).

The airport has nonstop service to six destinations (Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, New York LaGuardia, Philadelphia, and Washington Dulles) as well as weekly flights to Orlando Sanford International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.