DAYTONA BEACH — Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport is on track this year to be its strongest in nearly 20 years. In September, the Volusia County-run airport counted 53,691 travelers via incoming or outgoing flights, a 22.8 percent increase over 43,728 counted the same month a year ago.
For the 12 months ending Sept. 30, the airport’s passenger traffic totaled 689,586, up 10.8 percent from 622,294 the same period a year ago. September marked the 11th month in a row the airport has seen more passengers than it did the same month the previous year. If that trend continues, the airport’s passenger traffic numbers for 2016 could be its highest since 1997, said Jay Cassens, director of business development.
The airport, which counted 627,455 passengers last year, drew 781,501 in 1997. Since then, it has drawn more than 700,000 in a year only once: in 2007, which it drew 705,475, according to county data.