Denver International Airport is reporting an increase in international passenger traffic for July as it continues to watch its overall passenger traffic decline.
The airport is crediting its new nonstop flights to Tokyo and Fort McMuray, Canada for the double-digit increase in international traffic over the same period a year ago. The much-anticipated Denver-to-Tokyo flight began on June 10 while the nonstop route to the oil boom region of Canada began on June 7.
Airport officials note that Icelandair increased its capacity between Denver and Reykjavik by 50 percent compared to July 2012.
Origin and destination passenger traffic — which counts as those passengers that begin or end their air travel at DIA — was up by four percent.
“The growth in these two key areas spotlights the strength of Colorado’s travel industry and adds to our ability to attract new domestic and international flights,” said Kim Day, Denver’s manager of aviation.
The airport is looking to nurture its international offerings at the same time that it is watching its total passenger count decline in 2013 following years of growth.
July’s overall passenger traffic decreased by more than two percent compared to the same month a year ago, showing a year-to-date total decline of 1.1 percent in 2013.
During a Denver City Council meeting in August, DIA’s chief executive officer, Patrick Heck, attributed the overall passenger decline to a significant decrease in Denver-based Frontier Airlines’ capacity.
DIA’s mail, freight and express cargo operations saw a slight decrease of about .5 percent in July.
Kristen Leigh Painter: 303-954-1638, kpainter@denverpost.com or
