SACRAMENTO—For the first time ever in a 12-month period, Sacramento International Airport reports passenger numbers surpassing 10 million people. This figure represents the number of people who have chosen Sacramento International Airport as their airport of choice in the 12-month period from September 2004 through August 2005.

“It’s encouraging,” said Director of Airports Hardy Acree, Sacramento County Airport System (SCAS), “that Sacramento International Airport continues to experience unprecedented growth in passenger traffic. And we have responded by adding new retailers and restaurants and opening a new parking garage at Terminal A.”

Acree adds, “Sacramento International Airport is prepared for this level of traffic and expects this passenger growth to continue in the coming years.” VIA Magazine’s annual airport survey, which studies passenger traffic and preferences at the four Northern California commercial service airports (San Francisco International, Oakland International, San Jose Mineta International and Sacramento International) concluded that 1 in 4 airline passengers who had flown in the last six months of 2004 had not only used Sacramento International Airport, but that the same amount prefers SMF over the bay area airports.

In addition to the improvements that Acree outlines, the reason for Sacramento International Airport’s increasing popularity can be distilled into one word: convenience. There are no bridges, no bay area traffic jams, no tolls, no parking hassles and an abundance of non-stop, direct or connecting flights to virtually anywhere a traveler could want to go for business or pleasure