Record Passenger Traffic Set At BWI Airport In 2017

HANOVER, MD — For the third straight year, Baltimore Washington International Airport set a record for passenger traffic according to its 2017 numbers. The airport set a record with over 26 million passengers recorded, topping the previous record of 25.1 million passengers recorded in 2015. A final tally of cargo and number of flights through the airport in 2017 is still being finalized, Gov. Larry Hogan's office said.

In 2016 a total of 25,122,651 passengers flew through BWI Airport, up from 23,823,532 passengers in 2015. At a Jan. 19 business breakfast Hogan also touted the results of an economic impact study that says the airport produces more than $9.3 billion in total economic activity for the state and region and has added 8,751 jobs since 2015.

“BWI Marshall has broken passenger records for 29 out of the last 30 months, and every single day we seem to be announcing new services to spur growth for our airlines, our cargo shippers, and for the entire BWI business district,” Hogan said in a statement.

Completed in December, the Regional Economic Impact of BWI Marshall Airport report shows that the airport and visitors generate and support 106,488 jobs. The growth of 8,751 jobs represents an 8.95 percent increase from the last airport economic study, which was based on 2014 data. The airport’s economic activity creates and supports $4.1 billion in total employment earnings, along with $591.9 million in state and local taxes, the report shows.

Work on a $125 million expansion project at BWI Airport to add international airline capacity and new passenger services, including a security checkpoint for both domestic and international passengers wrapped up in early 2017. Additional new concessions and new restrooms were added, while the former security checkpoints for the D and E concourses were decommissioned. BWI Marshall is the 22nd busiest airport in the United States.

The expansion includesda new eight-lane security checkpoint for screening domestic and international travelers, new food and retail concessions, the construction of a new secure connector between Concourse D and the international Concourse E, and the configuration of airline gates to support added international service. Airport customers also now have a children's play area and an outdoor patio space with airfield views.

Last month, Transportation Security Administration said that BWI set another record in 2017: the number of firearms seized at the airport. TSA officers detected 25 firearms at BWI checkpoints in 2017, up from 24 weapons in 2016, 16 detected in 2015, and 14 firearms in 2014.

Authorities pointed out that firearms are never allowed at security checkpoints. Passenger who try to transport firearms through security checkpoints face criminal charges and up to $12,000 in civil penalties.

Patch file photo of BWI Airport