Punta Gorda Airport sets record for May passengers

Punta Gorda Airport recorded its busiest May ever, with more than 170,000 passengers traveling through the airport despite earlier expectations that traffic would remain flat. 

“We had the best May ever — just over 170,000 passengers,” Raymond Laroche, chief operating officer of the Charlotte County Airport Authority, told commissioners during the authority's June 18 meeting. 

Laroche said the milestone came even as Allegiant officials had projected passenger numbers would remain flat this year. Instead, the airport experienced an increase in traffic. 

Chief Marketing Officer Kaley Miller also shared several updates with the authority board. 

Allegiant will launch a new year-round route to La Crosse, Wisconsin, beginning Oct. 1, with flights operating Sundays and Thursdays. Sun Country Airlines also will resume seasonal service between Punta Gorda and Minneapolis from December through April. 

Miller announced that travelers will be able to enroll in TSA PreCheck at Punta Gorda Airport from Aug. 4-7. 

TSA PreCheck members receive expedited security screening by entering their Known Traveler Number into airline reservations or frequent flyer profiles. Applicants can pre-enroll online before completing a 10-minute in-person appointment that includes identity verification and fingerprinting at the airport's baggage claim area. 

For residents curious about the ongoing Bailey Terminal expansion, Miller said the airport plans to announce public hard-hat tours in the coming weeks. 

Construction on the $45 million terminal expansion began in spring 2025 and is scheduled for completion in three phases by May 2027. 

The project will add approximately 50,700 square feet while renovating another 28,000 square feet of the existing terminal. Once complete, the Bailey Terminal will encompass nearly 119,200 square feet, feature 10 departure gates and include additional concessions and other passenger amenities. 

Funding for the expansion comes from a combination of federal, state and airport revenues. The largest share includes grants from the Federal Aviation Administration through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Airport Terminal Program, including a $10 million award in 2024 to launch the project. 

The Florida Department of Transportation is providing an additional $14.5 million through grants and State Infrastructure Bank funding, with the remaining costs covered by airport-generated revenue. 

Miller also announced that the airport recently took delivery of a new aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle manufactured by Rosenbauer, replacing a 2008 model. 

The new apparatus, funded 90% by the Federal Aviation Administration and 10% by the Charlotte County Airport Authority, will support emergency response operations for the airport's approximately 2.2 million annual passengers.