Reno-Tahoe International Airport is positioned to finish 2005 ahead of last year’s impressive growth in passenger numbers and cargo.

Year-to-date, 79,000 more passengers have traveled through RTIA compared to the same timeframe last year. This statistic is notable because the Reno-Tahoe region did not feature the bowling convention or the International Readers Convention that helped bring 11 percent growth in passengers to the airport last year.

Passenger numbers were up 1.7 percent this November compared to the same month last year while cargo was 4.5 percent ahead of the same month in 2004. Approximately 7,000 more passengers traveled through RTIA this November compared to last year.

“It looks like we will finish the year in strong fashion with passenger counts ahead of 2004,” Krys Bart, Executive director of RTIA, said. “Our Thanksgiving passenger traffic was impressive as we filled our parking garage and surface lots. Now, we are looking forward to continuing high passenger counts through the holidays.”

Cargo this November increased 4.6 percent over last year. Year-to-date cargo is 4.5 percent ahead of last year and exceeds the national average of 3.5 percent growth.

“Our growing cargo numbers reflect the efforts of Reno, Sparks, EDAWN and the NNDA to diversify our regional economy,” Bart said. “The increase in cargo during the holidays highlights the recent economic development and growth in our community.”