Passenger traffic at Stewart Airport soars

Stewart International Airport’s passenger traffic in April more than doubled over the same month in 2017.

NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. » Passenger traffic at Stewart International Airport continues to grow.

The latest statistics, for April, show traffic more than doubled over the same month a year ago.

A total of 50,438 people used the airport in April 2018, compared with 23,303 in 2017, an increase of 116 percent.

Year to date from January to April, use grew by 104 percent, from 88,744 passengers to 181,153.

Cargo tonnage flowing through Stewart also grew, up 25 percent in the first four months of the year, increasing from 6,005 tons last year to 7,516 this year.

The passenger growth is attributed to the Norwegian Air flights to Europe and the expanded service of Allegiant Air. Norwegian flies to five cities from Stewart, while Allegiant, which flies yearround to three Florida cit-

ies, last Thursday also resumed its seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Michael Torelli, director of business development for the airport, said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the facility, continues to lobby other airlines to serve the airport.

“What’s nice is that we do get in the door because there is always the need and relationships that we have at our other facilities to help us get in,” Torelli said. “There is nothing to report today, but ... we’re really working on it.”

The Port Authority also operates Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports in the New York City metropolitan area.