Northwest Florida Regional Airport located in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida set a record last month in accommodating 111,566 passengers in the month of May, far exceeding any previous monthly traffic level and has set another new record for passenger travel. This increase was largely the result of new, non-stop air service to twenty destinations served by Vision Airlines.

Travelers utilizing the airport last month was a 57.2 percent increase from May 2010, exceeds the highest historical monthly tally set the previous month in April 2011 of 96,788 passengers, and tops the busiest month in the airport’s fifty-four year history. “Keep in mind this number does not reflect the five new cities introduced June 1 by Vision Airlines, therefore, we are expecting more good news all summer,” says Airport Director Greg Donovan. “Overall for the year to date, VPS is up 29 percent by providing affordable, non-stop service to many high demand communities.”

“Another record breaking month indicates the high demand for visitors coming to Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast and the distinctive products offered by our airlines,” stated Okaloosa County Commissioner and airport liaison Bill Roberts. “Vision Airlines has continued to build their presence in our community and has been extremely successful in bringing visitors from places like Knoxville, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky,” Roberts continued. Hotels, restaurants, services and business all directly benefit from this significant new air service and we are grateful for the hard work of our airlines, airport, and TDC.” According to Visit Florida, each of these visitors spends an average of $975.

Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) is a joint-use facility established on Eglin AFB in 1957. The airport has scheduled non-stop service to a total of 24 cities on American Eagle, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, and is a hub for Vision Airlines. New non-stop service to Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, St. Louis, Memphis/Tunica, and Lafayette began June 1. For further information, please visit www.flyvps.com.