Sep. 23—PITTSTON TWP. — More people flew out of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in August than a year ago and airport finances improved, too.

Another 18,266 travelers flew out of the airport last month, up 24.4% from August 2021, as the airline industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, airport director Carl Beardsley Jr. said during a bi-county board meeting Thursday.

Airport ridership has grown each of the last 18 months, though departures still aren't reaching the record monthly levels before the pandemic shut down the industry in March 2020. The August monthly record is 27,006.

Assistant director Gary Borthwick reported revenues exceeded expenses by $112,697 in August, compared to a $236,967 loss last year. The airport has largely stopped relying on federal pandemic relief money for day-to-day expenses. The airport had $11,848,409 in relief money left at the end of August.

At the request of board member Tim McGinley, Borthwick said he would produce a report for the next meeting outlining potential ways of spending the remaining relief money. The money must be spent by May 2024, he said. The airport is spending about $600,000 in relief money to upgrade the system where passengers pick up luggage.

In other business, the board:

* Heard an update on the rehabilitation of terminal access road. Airport engineering director Stephen Mykulyn said work will begin in October and be completed by spring 2023. The October work will include removing a dip in the road and upgrading catch basins. The road repaving will take place in the spring.

* Ratified a $6,998,000 contract with Leeward Construction, of Honesdale, to prepare land for the extension of a taxiway to serve its main, 7,501-foot runway's southern end.

* Awarded a $370,980 contract to Joyce Electrical Inc., of Archbald, to relocate navigation aid equipment to the other side of the main runway as part of the taxiway extension job.

* Accepted the resignations of employees Stephen Cleveland, of Scranton; David Snyder, of Old Forge; and Katie Aebli, of Scranton.

* Hired John Engleman of Hanover Twp. as a lead fireman.

Contact the writer:

[email protected], 570-348-9147

@BorysBlogTT

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