Philadelphia International Airport set records in 2005 for number of passengers and for takeoffs and landings, but the high-water mark for travelers will be hard to top this year, city aviation officials said today.
With 31.5 million passengers getting on or off planes, the airport ranked 25th-busiest in the world last year, compared with No. 30 in 2004, the officials said.
In aircraft operations, Philadelphia handled 535,666 takeoffs and landings last year, making it the ninth-busiest airport in the world, compared with 486,164 in 2004, when it was 13th busiest.
Both sets of figures are based on preliminary rankings compiled by Airports Council International - North America, an industry group.
Among the reasons for Philadelphia's surge in traffic was the continuing growth of two low-cost carriers, Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways, and a big increase in flights and passengers for US Airways Express, the commuter service of the airport's largest airline. Last year was the first time Philadelphia International broke into the top 10 of the world's busiest airports.
"I'd love to take credit but the airport's role was primarily in encouraging competition and supporting the arrival of new airlines," said City Aviation Director Charles J. Isdell.
Philadelphia Inquirer
With 31.5 million passengers getting on or off planes, the airport ranked 25th-busiest in the world last year, compared with No. 30 in 2004, the officials said.
In aircraft operations, Philadelphia handled 535,666 takeoffs and landings last year, making it the ninth-busiest airport in the world, compared with 486,164 in 2004, when it was 13th busiest.
Both sets of figures are based on preliminary rankings compiled by Airports Council International - North America, an industry group.
Among the reasons for Philadelphia's surge in traffic was the continuing growth of two low-cost carriers, Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways, and a big increase in flights and passengers for US Airways Express, the commuter service of the airport's largest airline. Last year was the first time Philadelphia International broke into the top 10 of the world's busiest airports.
"I'd love to take credit but the airport's role was primarily in encouraging competition and supporting the arrival of new airlines," said City Aviation Director Charles J. Isdell.
Philadelphia Inquirer
