Baltimore-Washington airport sets passenger record for 3rd year, sees 22.6M passengers in 2012

LINTHICUM, Md. - For the third year in a row Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has set a record for passenger traffic.

Gov. Martin O'Malley said Tuesday that more than 22.6 million passengers used the airport in 2012. That's an increase of 1.3 per cent over 2011, when about 22.4 million commercial passengers flew through the airport.

In July 2012, the airport also set a new monthly record with more than 2.2 million passengers.

Two new airlines began service at the airport in 2012. Condor Airlines now flies from BWI to Germany. Spirit Airlines also now flies from the airport to Florida and Texas.

Annual cargo shipments also rose at BWI last year. Total cargo for the year reached 246.4 million pounds, an increase of 3.7 per cent over 2011.