SOUTH BEND — About 4 percent more people flew out of South Bend International airport in 2015 than in 2014.
While United Airlines added a daily flight to Newark, N.J., in October 2014, the increase in passengers is not solely attributed to that service.
Instead, all the commercial carriers saw an increase in passengers — Delta gained 6.44 percent, United gained 1.42 percent and Allegiant gained 1.07 percent.
"The airlines are working their schedules putting in larger aircraft, additional seats and additional flights," said Julie Curtis, director of marketing and development for the airport. "The community receives the air service that it supports, so when those flights are being filled, they will add more."
Construction on the airport's $9.02 million federal inspection station, or border customs, began in November and is expected to wrap up this fall. At that point, it would be possible for a carrier to offer an international destination, such as Cancun, Mexico.
Charter flights also saw an increase in passengers in 2015, carrying about 36 percent more people out of South Bend.