Portland jetport grew fastest in N.E. in ’07

PORTLAND – The Portland International Jetport had the fastest rate of growth last year among airports in New England, jetport officials said.

The 17 percent increase in passenger traffic from 2006 to 2007 comes after low-cost carriers JetBlue and AirTran Airways launched service from Portland. JetBlue began service in May 2006, and AirTran launched its first flights from Portland last summer.

The low-cost carriers have driven down air fares, making Portland more competitive with airports in Boston and Manchester, N.H., said Jeff Monroe, Portland’s transportation director.

About 1.65 million passengers flew through Portland in 2007, which was about 240,000 more than in 2006.

“Best year we ever had,” Monroe said. “We have finally turned this around, so we’re excited as all get-out.”

While Portland’s passenger counts went up in double digits, other New England airports weren’t so fortunate.

The counts rose 2.9 percent in Burlington, Vt., and 1.4 percent in Boston, according to jetport officials. They fell between 0.1 percent to 5.6 percent in Manchester, Providence, R.I., Bangor and Bradley, Conn.

The spike in passenger traffic in Portland means more money is coming into the airport, according to Monroe.

The extra revenue will help fund a $60 million expansion project calling for construction of a five-story parking garage and a 125,000-square-foot addition to the terminal. Without the jump in passengers, the airport would not be embarking on an ambitious expansion effort, Monroe said.

“It’s really the difference between a complete remake and just a slight remodeling,” he said. “This is great news for us.”