Traffic at Colorado Springs Airport continues to take off

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Airport has been busy this summer, and traffic coming through the airport is at the highest its been in recent history.

In the month of July, 107,702 passengers were enplaned representing a 30.4 percent increase from July 2019 with 214,382 total passengers traveling through the terminal – a 29.8 percent increase from the same period in 2019.

These numbers can be attributed to the addition of Southwest Airlines and more seats on a number of other airlines. The increase isn't just good for the airport, but the economy as well.

"We’re a good reflection of the city and its growth. We’re an economic engine for this community, so when you fly COS you’re not just supporting the airport you’re supporting the community as well," said Dana Schield, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Airport.

Doug Price, the CEO of Visit Colorado, says the increase is a result of great marking efforts from the City of Colorado Springs, the Chamber of Commerce, Visit Colorado Springs, the airport, and Southwest Airlines.

"Tourism is a shared community value, what I mean but that is the tourism economy really does lift all planes, all boats, and really has helped our entire region recover from jus the catastrophic effects we had from the pandemic," said Price.

This week alone, 8,000 people are in town for the 36th annual Space Symposium many of them flying through the airport.

"This year will probably be 15 million dollars to our economy," said Price.