With nearly 31.7 million passengers last year, the Philadelphia International Airport is seeing its largest numbers in over a decade, writes Kenneth Hilario for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

This seven percent increase, year over year, marks the highest total of passengers since 2007, when its record was 32.2 million.

A strong performance by the airport is important for the entire 11-county region. It is an economic driver that produces $15.4 billion in annual output and supports 96,300 jobs.

The growth in passengers is attributed to its new air service that offers flights to 27 destinations from several airlines, including some low-cost carriers.

It has also been boosted by international travel, with more than 4.2 million international passengers passing through PHL. This is a growth of six percent from 2017 and the largest percentage increase since 2004.

Now, airport officials are focusing on organizing direct flights to China due to the growing number of Chinese tourists. This would also be good for local businesses and organizations that do business in China, including the Chester County Economic Development Council.

Read more about the airport’s surge in passengers in the Philadelphia Business Journal here.

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