Durango-La Plata Airport recorded its busiest month ever in June, notching 37,743 departing passengers for the month.

“We anticipated an increase in passenger traffic, but these record numbers are above expectations,” says Director of Aviation Tony Vicari. “We’ll be monitoring our 2019 traffic numbers through the peak summer travel season, but right now, we’re on target to exceed last year’s 1.8% passenger-traffic growth trend.”

Airport officials attribute seasonal nonstop Saturday service to and from Chicago and Houston and continued seasonal nonstop Saturday service to and from Los Angeles in helping to boost June’s passenger traffic by 8.1% from last year. The numbers are based on the airport’s monthly airline activity report.

Year-to-date passenger traffic is up 2.6%.

Last month, nonstop Saturday flights began operation for the first time between the Durango-La Plata County Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and between DRO and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Saturday nonstop service to Los Angeles International Airport is now in its fourth year. Airport officials will continue to track the trends on the routes to determine if they would support approaching airline network planners about potentially extending the service to daily flights throughout the year, according to a news release issued by Durango’s airport.

Construction activity also continues this summer at the airport, which recently secured $6.8 million in federal funding that will go toward reconstruction of a portion of its 9,200-foot taxiway.

In March, the airport broke ground on a terminal improvement project to renovate and expand airline offices, baggage-claim facilities and TSA baggage screening operations.

“We’re experiencing steady and encouraging growth,” Vicari said in the news release. “Passengers are not only taking advantage of the time-saving benefits of flying to and from DRO, but also, they are experiencing the ease and convenience of our manageable facilities.”

The airport operates as an enterprise fund of the city of Durango and generates self-sustaining revenue from airport tenants and users in the form of airline rents and landing fees, terminal concessions, ground leases and parking fees. The airport does not receive any local tax funding.

The airport recorded more than 378,000 passengers in 2018.

parmijo@durangoherald.com