HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Huntington Tri-State Airport saw passenger boardings grow by 24 percent in 2009 and the highest yearly boardings in 30 years, according to reports released today during the monthly meeting of the Tri-State Airport Authority. Year-end boardings totaled 105,436 passengers, compared to 85,084 in 2008.

The last time the airport exceeded one hundred thousand passengers was in 1989, when 101,577 passengers departed from the airport. The highest passenger level prior to that was in 1980 when the airport had 104,233 boardings.

December boardings were also up compared to last year by 8.5 percent. In 2009, all arriving and departing passengers totaled 209,836.

The airport has been steadily adding passengers since November 2006, when Allegiant Air began nonstop Florida service to Orlando. The airline added service to St. Petersburg /Clearwater, and Ft. Lauderdale in 2007 and 2008.

In April of 2009, Allegiant added nonstop service to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

“More and more travelers are choosing to fly from Huntington,” stated Marketing Director Beckie McKinley. “We now have nonstop service to more destinations and very affordable airfares. Area travelers have more reasons than ever to fly from Huntington for vacation and business travel.”