Denver International Airport set a record for passenger traffic in 2005, when more than 43 million people used the airport.
The total of 43,387,513 passengers last year was up 2.6 percent from the 42,275,913 passengers that passed through DIA in 2004, the previous record year. The airport released the figures this morning.
The pattern of steady growth in passenger traffic indicates strength in local and regional economies, according to DIA co-manager Vicki Braunagel.
Also today, DIA said December 2005 traffic made for the busiest December ever, with 3,546,529 passengers. That marks a 1.5 percent increase over the comparable month in 2004.
But cargo traffic was down slightly last year, declining 2.4 percent to 682,830,439 pounds handled.
Braunagel and co-manager Turner West also expect as many as 1.5 million more passengers through DIA in 2006, with traffic stimulated by newcomer Southwest Airlines on Southwest and other airlines.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or at kyamanouchi@denverpost.com .
