PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--In 2005, the total 31.5 million passengers who used Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) represented a healthy 10.5% boost in passenger traffic over 2004. This double-digit growth was the highest of any airport in North America and the second highest among the 30 busiest airports in the world, according to preliminary statistics released by Airports Council International - North America, an industry group. In 2005, PHL ranked 15th in the country in passenger traffic and 27th in the world.
Among the top 30 airports worldwide, only Beijing, which had a 17.5% upswing in passenger traffic, had a higher growth rate.
"This distinction underscores the growing stature of our airport in global aviation," said Mayor John F. Street. "The City continues to work aggressively to make our airport an attractive choice for both business and leisure travelers in this country and throughout the world, and this shows our efforts are producing positive results."
In 2004, PHL ranked 17th in North America and 30th in the world with 28.5 million total passengers, a 15.8% increase over 2003.
Also in 2005, for the first time PHL broke into the top 10 rankings among airports worldwide with 535,666 aircraft operations. This established PHL as the 9th busiest airport in the U.S. and in the world.
"Low fares, access to world markets and convenience are among the goals we have set for this Airport," said Charles J. Isdell, the City's Director of Aviation. "We need to keep improving our infrastructure so this growth is sustainable."
The Philadelphia Airport System is owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia and is composed of Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The Airport System is a self-sustaining entity that operates without the use of local tax dollars. It is one of the largest economic engines in Pennsylvania, generating an estimated $14 billion in spending to the regional economy and employing a workforce of nearly 34,000.
Visit the official Philadelphia International Airport website at http://www.phl.org.
CONTACT: Philadelphia International Airport Mark Pesce, 215-937-6944 KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIAINDUSTRY KEYWORD: TRAVEL AIRLINES TRANSPORTATION ADVERTISING/MARKETING GOVERNMENT BANKINGSOURCE: Philadelphia International Airport
