Nov. 28--TAMPA -- Ridership at Tampa International Airport declined 4.2 percent in October compared with a year ago to 647,514 departing passengers after a 2 percent gain the month before ended an 18-month decline.

The airport generally handles an equal number of arriving passengers, so nearly 1.3 million passengers used the airport last month.

"This was a little disappointing after having our first passenger increase ... in the last 18 months in September 2009 compared to September of 2008," airport director Louis Miller says in a report to airline officials.

"We are all hoping that November shows some improvement with some of the indications that the economy is showing some signs of recovery," Miller said. Southwest Airlines remained the busiest carrier at Tampa International in October with 199,291 departing passengers, 30.8 percent of the market share. Delta Air Lines ranked second, and US Airways ranked third.

The Air Transport Association of America reported a 3.9 percent decline in enplanements among major airlines in October, despite the 11th consecutive month of ticket price declines.

"With U.S. unemployment surpassing 10 percent in October, these results for air travel demand come as little surprise," ATA President and Chief Executive James C. May says in a written statement.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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