On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) released its monthly traffic numbers and the new stats reflect an exceptionally positive ongoing trend for both passengers and cargo.
According to the new data released during the monthly meeting of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority in August 2019, passenger traffic in and out of PTIA was up 18 percent over August of last year.
Year-to-date numbers for passenger traffic also showed an 18 percent increase.
Cargo flights at PTIA this August, compared to last August, had an even better showing: Those were up a whopping 46 percent. On a year-to-date basis, that cargo flight number was even more impressive – it was up 60 percent.
Airport officials cite a strong economy, more Fed Ex business and thriving distribution businesses near the airport as some of the reasons for the increases in cargo flights.
The airport also happily saw an increase in the number of planned passenger flights. The flights scheduled by airlines for November of 2019 are up 6 percent over November of 2018.
Airport officials are still pursuing the very challenging goal of bringing more commercial carriers to PTIA though they’re happy to see that the airlines now serving the airport are adding flights and destinations.
While airline tickets from PTIA may at times cost more than tickets at the state’s other two major airports, airport officials have been emphasizing that lines and drive times are shorter for PTIA, and, when gas and parking costs are factored in, it’s often cheaper and more convenient for area residents to fly in and out of Greensboro than Raleigh or Charolotte.