CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Gerald R. Ford International Airport announced that it reached the one-million passenger mark last month. It marks the earliest it has ever happened in the airport’s 54-year history.
In the past three years, the airport reached the million passenger mark in May.
April was also another month of growth for the airport. It saw 15 percent rise in passengers from the same time last year. Nearly 260,000 passengers moved through the airport in April 2018, according to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
The announcement comes on the heels of a record-breaking March for the airport.
“We were thrilled with our record-breaking March when we set the busiest month in our history, and to follow it with not only another tremendous rise in traffic, but hitting the million-passenger mark this early is incredible,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill in a news release. “Airlines are investing in this airport adding more frequencies, larger aircraft, and employing more staff to keep the services running smoothly. We are proud to be a catalyst for economic growth in this region and to support the business and leisure traffic that utilize our airport each week.”
The airport is coming off its busiest year ever when more than 2.8 million passengers flew through the Ford in 2017. It was the fifth straight year of record growth. In the last 64 months, the airport has seen 57 months of growth.
“Kudos to our entire airport staff for their efforts, especially our hard-working airline crews and TSA who keep passengers flowing through our new consolidated checkpoint quickly and efficiently, and getting them to their destinations safely. We couldn't grow without a strong team and we have that here at the Ford Airport,” Gill said in the release.
Phase Two of the Gateway Transformation Project is slated to begin in the fall with construction taking place at the airline ticket counters, baggage claim area and “front of house” area.
“As we continue to grow in traffic, it’s imperative that our facilities keep up with our passenger demand,” said Gill in the release. “Our passengers keep coming back because we listen to their wants and needs, and as they do we will continue to do our part to improve our amenities, technology, customer service and infrastructure. We are excited to see what the future holds, and we hope to add more growth in the years to come.”