KSUT Tribal Radio News
By Sarah Flower

Small regional airport passenger traffic lifts-off despite the pandemic.

The Durango-La Plata County Airport welcomed 397,293 passengers arriving and departing in 2021, a significant 101 percent increase compared to 2020, where traffic declined due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite such a robust year for 2021, Tony Vicari, director of aviation Durango- La Plata County Airport, says they forecast a weaker demand for the first quarter of 2022. And, the airport is seeing it play out.

The airport's influx happened during the summer into the end of 2021. Vicari hopes to see that for 2022, but says their internal forecast could see slightly moderate passenger traffic.

Moreover, expansion and upgrades to the airport facilities will continue to grow based on the services demands, stated Vicari in an interview with KSUT Tribal Radio about the airport's plans to avoid financial stress by creating unnecessary facilities.

Meanwhile, Clay Mitchell traveled to Durango, Colo., from St. Louis and enjoyed landing at the small airport.

"I prefer smaller, everyone's friendly, it's a super easy process, one line, one terminal," said Mitchell, and glad he did not have to worry about his stuff getting lost.

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