Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) Has Record Breaking Traffic in 2023
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) officials have recently released their year-end passenger traffic data for 2023, and the numbers reflect the continued growth and activity at the airport.
In 2023, SRQ served a total of 4.3 million passengers, marking a significant 12% increase compared to the previous year, 2022, when the airport accommodated 3.87 million passengers.
The month of December in 2023 saw a particularly busy period for SRQ, with 406,113 passengers passing through the airport. This figure represents a 7.5% increase compared to December 2022, which had 377,775 passengers.
Several noteworthy growth statistics highlight SRQ’s evolution over the years:
- The number of airlines serving SRQ has expanded from six in 2018 to a total of 11.
- Nonstop destinations available from SRQ have also increased significantly, rising from 5 in 2018 to an impressive 12.
SRQ President and CEO, Rick Piccolo, expressed his thoughts on this record-breaking growth. He stated, “The significant growth we have seen over the past five years has been phenomenal. This substantial increase in passenger traffic has presented various challenges for management, and we have been diligently working to meet the evolving needs of the airport. Over this period, we have successfully completed several essential construction projects.”
Some of these key projects include the expansion of the jet fuel storage facility, which tripled in size, the enlargement of the screening checkpoint by 33%, and the creation of additional parking lots.
SRQ is also actively engaged in ongoing development projects. These initiatives encompass the construction of a new concourse featuring five additional aircraft gates, an expansion of the ground transportation area, and the addition of new food and beverage concessions. A new five-gate terminal is slated for completion by December, with plans to open it to the public in January 2025.
While SRQ’s growth is noteworthy for passengers and those traveling to and from the airport, it’s important to note that two other airports in the region have larger passenger traffic numbers. Southwest Florida International Airport reported 10.3 million passengers in 2022, and Tampa International Airport registered 21.53 million passengers in the same year, according to the blog Simple Flying. Additionally, both Orlando International and Miami International Airport boasted over 50 million passengers in 2022.
Photo from SRQ Airport Facebook Page