There is no shortage of growth at the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport.

That means more people, more flights, more terminals, and more places to eat.  Airport officials say all those things are, in turn, good for business.

Airport officials say last month was the busiest November in the airport’s history with about 102,000 passengers. Airport officials, as well as travelers, said they have a few ideas as to why.

Shirley and Bruce Knisel say they’ve used the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport seven times this year alone.  

"It’s not so crowded," Bruce Knisel said. "The smaller airports seem to do a quicker, better job taking care of you, and you don’t have a long line to deal with."

And they’re not alone.

This year, the Knisels will be among the nearly 1.25 million passengers airport officials project will travel through the facility, thanks mainly to that convenience they like.

"They like parking right across the street and walking in," said Noah Lagos, Airport Director. "They like walking out of bag claim and getting their rental car right across the curb. These are the kinds of things people appreciate."

But that increase is also partly thanks to Allegiant Airlines, which provides 95 percent of passenger traffic, with service to 40 out of the 45 cities serviced at the airport.

Lagos says the airline is continually expanding its flights, too, going to larger cities and airports across the country.

"The next project is terminal phase three, which is going to take our second concourse and expand it somewhere in the neighborhood of about 400 seats to about 750 total seats with new concession facilities,” said Lagos.

Those new facilities will be put to good use.  

Next year, Lagos predicts the airport will reach an all-time record number of travelers.