Durango-La Plata County Airport will set passenger records in 2021 if current trends hold as expected.

DRO has rebounded to pre-pandemic traffic levels after a quick turnaround from a year ago. The airport will complete new projects and make minor adjustments in 2022 to accommodate growing travel in the region and support operations.

“It’s a remarkable recovery in many ways,” said Tony Vicari, director of aviation for DRO.

“We’ve been consistently setting individual monthly records every month since June, and it really speaks to the resilience of our market, the economic recovery of our area and the ongoing interest in inbound visitation as well,” he said.

More than 360,000 passengers had passed through DRO as of the end of November.

With strong holiday travel, Vicari said the airport will surpass the 390,506 passengers that set a yearly record for traffic in 2019 by an estimated 6,000 travelers.

According to airport data, airline traffic year-to-date has been up 1.3% compared with 2019. That number may seem insignificant, but travel has rebounded 100% from the depths of the pandemic in 2020. Only 180,000 passengers passed through DRO by the end of November 2020, half the number of those who have flown this year.

“People talk about the ‘V’ recovery in a recession and this is the absolute definition of that where you see a precipitous drop and then immediate snap back in demand,” Vicari said.

“The speed at which it recovered is certainly outpacing my expectations. And I think most people’s expectations,” he said.

The rebound is not unique to DRO.

Vicari said Mountain West and coastal airports like those in Colorado, Wyoming, Florida and South Carolina have thrived in 2021.

“Nationwide, traffic has really only recovered about 80% of pre-pandemic level,” he said. “It’s being led by the mountains and the beaches and really lagged with destinations that were heavily dependent on business travel, which remains pretty deeply suppressed.”

DRO’s recovery this year has also been notable for the return of local travelers.

Residents of Durango and La Plata County make up 50% of winter and 35% of summer traffic.

But during the pandemic, outside travelers were making up 60%, and, at times, close to 70% of traffic.

“We’re seeing really strong recovery of local travelers wanting to utilize the airport to take their own travels,” Vicari said.

Vicari said he expects passenger traffic to continue to grow at DRO in the coming years, which is why the airport is planning major projects and upgrading its facilities.

In 2022, the airport has two capital projects planned.

A scheduled runway rehabilitation will shut down the airport for 10 days, Sept. 7 to Sept. 16. The airport’s sole runway will be repaved, among other improvements, to extend its lifespan by at least another 10 years before more maintenance is required.

DRO also started a design process to renovate and expand the current terminal in September 2021. Work on designs will continue through 2022 with initial construction in late 2022 or early 2023.

The first phase of the expansion will target the gate area where passengers wait for flights. It will add space and restrooms and could also include new concessions.

“The building was constructed in 1988. It’s been over 30 years, our traffic has doubled, and we have made minimal adjustments to our facilities during that timeline,” Vicari said. “It’s the appropriate time to add the necessary square footage and modern upgrades to the terminal to ensure that it keeps up with current demand.”

Future phases would almost entirely reimagine DRO, including changes to baggage claim, security and the potential addition of a jet bridge to modernize the airport.

DRO is also looking to add electric vehicle charging stations with installation planned for next summer.

To help pay for the upgrades, parking prices at the airport will increase in 2022. The daily maximum will increase from $7 to $8 effective Jan. 1.

“The increase is driven by the need to maintain sustainable revenues to support the airport’s operations,” Vicari said. “The airport is completely self-sustaining financially, and parking revenue is a key source of funding for the airport both in terms of managing daily operations and investing in capital improvements. Like any business, we need to occasionally increase prices to keep up with rising costs of operation.”

Parking fees account for about a quarter of the airport’s operational revenue every year, he said. The rate has not changed since 2013.

“It’s been eight years and we’ve seen inflationary impacts on our expenses to operate the airport,” he said.

The most a traveler will have to pay is an additional $7 if they stay for exactly seven days. After the first week, the price drops to $6.

DRO will host an open house in February to show the public the improvements that are being made and the airport’s plans for the future.

“It’s pretty exciting and hopefully the community’s excited about it, (too),” Vicari said.

ahannon@durangoherald.com