Montgomery Regional Airport traffic takes off in 2018

The number of people flying in and out of Montgomery Regional Airport jumped more than 11 percent in 2018, the airport said.

Air travel trended up worldwide last year. A record 4.1 billion people flew in 2017, and that total rose to nearly 4.5 billion last year.

As a percentage, Montgomery air travel rose even faster. The regional airport saw traffic jump to 338,920 in 2018, an increase of more than 34,000 travelers.

That came during a year in which the Montgomery airport launched new service to Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Florida, while adding a third flight to Dallas.

Airport officials also pointed to recent upgrades and additions to the airport itself, including a new entrance, charging stations, faster Wi-Fi, kids' play areas, wheelchair and skycap services. Last year, it opened the restaurant and bar Runway 28 as well as a new retail area.

More:New restaurant, bar opens at Montgomery airport

“We’ve been hard at work to ensure MGM is the airport of choice in this region,” Montgomery Airport Authority Chair Tammy Knight Fleming said in a release. “Efforts will continue to accelerate this growth and identify new opportunities to enhance the convenience of flying from our hometown hub. We want to thank the local community and passengers in the River Region for their support.”

Airport Executive Assistant Mark Wnuk noted more passengers potentially mean more terminal amenities, routes and airlines. Airport Director Bob Hendrix said the facility is working to keep that trend going.

“We are relentlessly pursuing a culture of excellence in customer service, and each day, we’re working with our airline partners and vendors to improve the passenger experience,” Hendrix said in a release. “There’s much more in store in 2019.”