Unruly passengers have doubled the number of arrests at Sarasota Bradenton airport
Before the surge in passengers that has made Sarasota Bradenton International Airport one of the fastest growing in the world, it had the reputation as a “boutique airport.”
It was quiet, had no lines to speak of, and little that would raise the blood pressure.
But that has changed, and along the 3,163,543 passengers that passed through the terminal last year, the airport is seeing a growing number of passengers who are not on their best behavior.
In 2020, there were 15 arrests at SRQ. In 2021, there were 33.
For the month of January, the airport reported two felony arrests and one miscellaneous arrest.
There were also 16 disorderly conduct incidents in January.
“We hired a couple more police officers,” said Rick Piccolo, president and CEO, referring to efforts to curb volatile passenger behavior.
“It’s very disturbing. You don’t get to see it, but I do,” Piccolo told airport authority members.
In addition to a higher volume of people at the airport, passengers are also experiencing the stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires masks in the terminal and on flights.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
