Daytona Beach, FL – Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport trends up in the final month before JetBlue service began.
Volusia County officials say 48,604 passengers flew in or out of the county-operated airport in December 2015. That’s 1,143 more passengers compared to the 47,461 posted for the December prior, an increase of almost 2.5%.
Airport officials say that’s due in part to bigger airplanes being used by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Total seat capacity increased by 7% in December.
It’s the second month in a row that passenger traffic increased at DBIA. November 2015 saw a 4% increase.
DBIA Director Rick Karl says the passenger numbers should really start jumping up with the next report, which will be the first since JetBlue Airways began daily non-stop round-trip service from Daytona Beach to New York City.
“It is an exciting time for Daytona Beach International Airport,” Karl added. “We look forward to developing our new partnership with JetBlue and continuing to grow our outstanding relationships with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines in 2016.”
Initial indications show JetBlue’s flights from DBIA to NYC’s John F. Kennedy International Airport have been at capacity or close to it since beginning service on January 7th, according to county spokesman Dave Byron.
629,843 passengers flew in or out of DBIA in 2015, according to the county. That’s 2,388 more than the 627,455 reported for 2014.
Average passenger loads for 2015 were at 91% combined for Delta and American, per DBIA.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.