More people traveled through SRQ airport in April 2023 than live in Manatee County
Record passenger traffic continued to flow through Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in April in the midst of a major terminal expansion project.
SRQ served 451,036 passengers during the month — more than the population of Manatee County — compared to 386,013 passengers in April 2022.
It was a 17% increase and a record for the month.
For the 12 months ending in April 2023, SRQ had served 4,113,442 passengers, a 9% increase compared to 3,776,825 passengers for the same period a year earlier.
“We continue to see strong growth in the number of flights, destinations, and passengers using SRQ. With our peak travel months behind us, we are now focused on completing several multi-million-dollar construction projects to better accommodate increased demand,” Rick Piccolo, the airport’s president and CEO, said in a news release.
At a cost of about $70 million, SRQ is getting a new cellphone waiting lot, additional paved parking areas, new ground transportation pick-up area, new baggage screening system, and a new five-gate terminal expansion.
“These various projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and will substantially increase capacity at the airport, allowing airlines to add more flights while providing passengers the service and amenities they are accustomed to when traveling through SRQ,” Piccolo said.
