Driven by economic growth in the Columbus Region, passenger and air cargo volumes demonstrated impressive upward trends at Port Columbus and Rickenbacker airports during the first half of 2015. “Passenger and air cargo carriers are capitalizing on the dynamic opportunities that continue to arise in the Columbus Region, enabling our airports to offer additional travel options for passengers and more strategic opportunities for businesses,” said Elaine Roberts, President & CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. To date in 2015 Southwest Airlines leads air service expansion at Port Columbus with four new routes including the April start of Dallas and Washington (DCA) service and the upcoming Aug. 9 launch of service to Oakland (San Francisco Bay Area) and Boston. Allegiant Airlines at Rickenbacker experienced significant passenger growth thanks to expanding their service from four to seven markets. Meanwhile, Rickenbacker’s reputation as a global logistics hub continued to gain prominence. Cargolux, Cathay Pacific and Emirates SkyCargo airlines contributed to triple-digit increases in international freight while UPS and FedEx remained strong domestic air cargo carriers. “Our airports are very busy, and we’re delighted at the success our valued air carrier partners are experiencing,” said Roberts. “Considering the Columbus Region’s strong economy and the strategic support of our regional partners, we anticipate continued growth through 2015 and into 2016 for Port Columbus and Rickenbacker.”