Eugene Airport services 1M passengers in 2017, breaks record

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The Eugene Airport has surpassed 1 million annual passengers in 2017, the airport’s first time doing so.

The Register-Guard reports that officials announced the milestone on Monday.

The city-owned facility had inched close to the 1 million mark in 2016 but fell short.

A robust economy and added flights have contributed to the airport breaking annual passenger numbers for seven consecutive years.

The airport competes for air travelers with Portland International Airport, which is a two-hour drive from Eugene.

The Portland airport usually attracts more than 1 million travelers per month.

Last year, 18.3 million people arrived or departed from Portland’s airport.