RDU Posts Passenger Gains for Third Month in a Row

RDU Airport, NC – The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority today announced a growth in passengers for the third month in a row. In May, the number of passengers departing RDU grew 4.4 percent over the same period last year, while the number of passengers arriving at RDU grew 4.8 percent. The activity numbers were released today at the monthly meeting of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority board.

Throughout the month, 436,051 passengers departed RDU compared to 417,581 during the same month last year. The number of passengers arriving at RDU rose to 427,600 from 408,016 in April 2013.

“After a slow beginning to the year due to the inclement weather our region experienced, we are seeing growth in the number of passengers traveling through RDU,” said RDU President and CEO Mike Landguth. “The spring break travel period kicked off in March, and the momentum we gained continues as we head into the summer travel season.”

In March, the number of departing passengers rose 2.7 percent, while arriving passengers rose 0.4 percent compared to the same period last year. In April, the number of passengers departing RDU rose 4.6 percent over April 2013, while arriving passengers rose 4.4 percent.

RDU Receives Grant for Terminal 1 Ramp Project
The Airport Authority board also voted today to accept a $1.1 million grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation. The grant is for the airport’s $14 million Terminal 1 ramp project.

As part of the modernization of Terminal 1, the airport replaced the ramp, which is the parking area for aircraft arriving and departing the terminal.

The NDCOT grant is not the first one RDU has received for the project. Last year, the Airport Authority accepted two grant offers from the FAA totaling $6.7 million.

RDU Welcomes New Chief Operating Officer
The Airport Authority today welcomed William C. Sandifer as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In his position, Sandifer will oversee facility development, maintenance, law enforcement, fire and operations.

He brings to RDU nearly 30 years’ experience in airports, most recently as a consultant with Reynolds, Smith and Hills, where he served as senior vice president and national aviation director.

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