Airport passenger numbers fall for fourth month

The airport had 74,698 passengers in July, down about 10,000 from July last year and down about 3,000 from June 2008.

For the year so far, the airport’s passenger count is down 7 percent.

The primary factor in the decline is the increase in jet fuel prices, which result in higher fares that turn off customers, airport spokesman Kent Boyd said on the airport’s blog.

“The airlines are still hurting – a lot. And we’re all feeling their pain,” he said.