CLEVELAND, Ohio — Nearly 4.9 million passengers traveled through Cleveland Hopkins International Airport during the first half of 2019, the most for that period in more than a decade.

The airport Saturday released 2019 passenger numbers through June, which were up 4.5 % over a year ago. The airport is on pace to see more than 10 million passengers in 2019, for the first time since 2008.

Among the reasons why: new destinations from several airlines, including Frontier and Allegiant, plus additional service on existing routes from carriers including United.

According to the airport, 97 % of Hopkins travelers are now origin and destination passengers, meaning they started or ended their trips in Cleveland. This is a dramatic increase from the airport’s days as a hub for United Airlines, when as many as 35 % of CLE travelers were simply passing through. United closed its Cleveland hub in 2014.

“The increase in passengers choosing Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a testament to the airport’s focus on quality service and traveler experience,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “This growth is also reflective of our city’s growing reputation as a key business and tourist destination.”

Last week, the airport released its most recent customer satisfaction scores from the Airport Council International’s Airport Service Quality service, which were the highest in more than a decade.

The airport also cited Transportation Security Administration data from earlier this month, when the airport saw a 21 percent increase in passengers the day after Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. The longest security wait time that day was 15 minutes, according to the airport.

Cleveland Hopkins passenger traffic

2019 (first half): 4.9

2018: 9.64 million

2017: 9.14 million

2016: 8.42 million

2015: 8.10 million

2014: 7.61 million

2013: 9.07 million

2012: 9.01 million

2011: 9.18 million

2010: 9.49 million

2009: 9.72 million

2008: 11.11 million

2007: 11.46 million

2006: 11.32 million

2005: 11.46 million

2004: 11.26 million

2003: 10.56 million

2002: 10.80 million

2001: 11.86 million

2000: 13.29 million

Sources: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

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