BANGOR – Officials from Bangor International Airport announced Thursday that the airport posted a nearly 20 percent increase in passenger traffic over the last year.

The number of seats flown in and out of the Bangor airport in January of this year was 17.6 percent higher than that total for January 2003, according to a statement issued by BIA Director Rebecca Hupp and Assistant Director Tony Caruso.

“The airport is pleased to see such a dramatic increase in passenger traffic. January is usually a very slow month for the industry. Our numbers for 2003 were stable and we’re confident that our numbers will continue to increase as more and more of the region’s passengers discover the ease and affordability of our jet service. We look forward to additional service announcements in the near future,” Hupp said.

In addition, jet traffic at BIA now makes up 95 percent of all seats flown in the market, up from 75 percent in 2002.

More than “95 percent of our air service is now jet,” City Council Chairman Dan Tremble noted. “That is a very substantial percentage of our daily flying and is attracting new passengers. Citizens of the region are certainly discovering the great jet flights and competitive prices that our airport has to offer.”

Hupp attributed the increased business to a number of factors.

For starters, BIA is offering more jet service and more destinations, she said, adding that the airport’s marketing efforts have heightened regional awareness of those services.

In addition to recent television advertising, BIA for the past few years has conducted twice yearly promotional campaigns in the print and broadcast media.

“I think that the advertising has created an awareness that our prices are competitive, on the whole and on average,” Hupp said.

Hupp also said increased confidence in the local and national economy also contributed to the growth.

“People are more optimistic and willing to travel,” she said. Some issues that kept potential passengers from flying last year were the war in Iraq and outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.