Golden Triangle Leads Airports in Passenger Growth

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, MIss. (WCBI) — Golden Triangle Regional Airport continues to lead the state in passenger growth, despite troubles hitting the rest of the industry.

Through the first nine months of the year, the number of passengers boarding Delta planes have increased in all but one month. It adds up to almost 5 percent growth over last year’s record totals.

Golden Triangle Regional is the only one of the state’s eight airports to see an increase in passenger loads this year. Airport leaders say business travel, Columbus Air Force Base and Mississippi State, along with convenience and competitive pricing have combined to fuel the growth.

So far this year, the following are the changes in passenger counts at some of the state’s airports when compared to 2011:

Golden Triangle — Up 4.9%; Tupelo — Down 20.4%; Jackson — Down .47%; Meridian — Down .97%; Gulfport — Down 3.89%; Mid-Delta — Down 21.1%.