9.4 million passengers passed through ABIA last year

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was a popular spot in 2012. The airport set an all-time record with 9,430,314 passengers last year.

That number was up 4 percent, or 349,439 passengers, from 2011. The airport has now posted consistent passenger growth for three straight years.

“ABIA's continuing growth momentum is a critical resource and direct input to a successful and healthy Central Texas business environment," said Doug Driskill, Chair of the Austin Chamber Air Service Task Force, Dell Executive Director of Global Consumer and SMB Services.

"We commend Austin-Bergstrom on its 2012 success. We look forward to working in partnership to make the efforts and coordination that produced this record breaking year the benchmark standard of excellence as we move forward.”

Large events and a rapidly growing region added to the increased numbers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Austin ranked first for all metro areas since 2004 in job creation and was named the fastest growing city by Forbes in Jan. 2013.

The arrival of Formula 1 to Austin provided big numbers for the airport as well. On Nov. 19, ABIA set a new record for outbound passengers with 21,823 persons departing.

According to ABIA, highlighting the year’s growth in passenger traffic was the addition of nonstop service from Austin to Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., on Southwest Airlines.

Other nonstop service added in 2012 included: Atlanta, Portland, and Newark on Southwest Airlines, Philadelphia via US Airways, and Cancun on AirTran Airways and United Airlines. AirTran became the airport’s newest carrier, with services starting last year.