Passenger count soars at Youngstown airport

January 8, 2015 at 11:22p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The passenger count at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has soared every year — from 32,794 in 2008 to 129,771 last year — after sinking to a low of 15,989 in 2003, according to numbers compiled by the Western Reserve Port Authority.

“The target is 150,000 to 160,000 this year,” which, if achieved, would be the highest number of passengers in the airport’s history, John Moliterno, authority director, told the Mahoning County commissioners.

Moliterno spoke during a Thursday staff meeting between the commissioners and their four appointees to the port authority board, which operates the airport.

“I attribute that to Allegiant Airlines coming in here and providing an affordable means of air travel,” Dan Dickten, aviation director at the airport, said of the increase.

Read the complete story in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.