Akron-Canton Airport has busiest month ever; setting all-time passenger record

Southwest Airlines subsidiary AirTran Airways carries 80,000 passengers for the first time in CAK history

GREEN, Ohio, June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Welkom, Bienvenue, Aloha, Shalom, Ahlan'wa Sahla, Bienvendio! In other words, we'd like to say welcome; welcome to Akron-Canton Airport (CAK). Marking a 65- year monthly passenger record, 158,334 Customers traveled to/from CAK in May. The old record was set in July 2011 (155,000). Compared to May of last year, the airport hosted 11,881 more passengers in 2012; an eight percent increase. For the first five months of the year, 705,335 travelers flew to/from CAK, up 12 percent compared with the first five months of 2011.

"Nothing makes us happier than welcoming thousands of new Customers," said Rick McQueen, president and CEO. "We hope to keep them coming back by offering the lowest average airfare in Ohio and by offering a relaxing airport experience. It is what makes CAK a better way to go."

May 2012 also marks the 14th consecutive month of record-breaking passenger traffic.  AirTran Airways (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines) offering nonstop service to Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, New York, Boston, Milwaukee and Denver  increased 17 percent compared to May 2011 carrying 80,655 total passengers.  Frontier Airlines flying nonstop to Denver was up 22 percent compared to last year. US Airways, with flights to Charlotte, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. (Reagan), increased by 9 percent. United with flights to Chicago O'Hare, increased by 6 percent. Delta Air Lines, offering nonstop flights to their global hubs in Atlanta and Detroit, was up slightly compared to last year. Further, beginning August 12, 2012, Southwest Airlines will begin two daily nonstop trips to Chicago Midway along with replacing AirTran's nonstop flight to Denver. Southwest tickets can only be purchased at southwest.com.

About Akron-Canton Airport
Akron-Canton Airport offers low fares and relaxing experience. Low airfares at CAK have saved $958 million in total airfare savings in the last 16 years for the Northeast Ohio region. CAK's airfares are the 14th average lowest in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. CAK continues to make significant progress on CAK 2018, the airport's 10-year, $110-million capital improvement plan.  A new state-of-the-art security checkpoint and the extension and safety upgrade of runway 5/23 are completed. 2012 projects include a new aircraft rescue and firefighting maintenance facility. Keep up to date on all things CAK at akroncantonairport.com. You also can join the conversation about CAK and your travels at Facebook.com/akroncantonairport or Twitter.com/CAKairport.  Akron-Canton Airport a better way to go®.

SOURCE Akron-Canton Airport