Lafayette airport wants to boost traffic LAFAYETTE, LA. (AP) (wrkf) - The Lafayette Regional Airport, which has seen its business grow sharply over the past few years, is moving forward with a 31.7 million dollar expansion project.

The expansion, which would be completed in three phases from 2009 to 2011, would add two or three new jet ramps and expand the parking lot to accommodate up to 350,000 passengers a year. The terminal can currently handle about 240,000 passengers a year.

The airport had more than 220,000 passengers last year and is on pace to reach the 240,000-passenger mark by 2010.

Lafayette Airport Commission chairman Jim Nunn says the airport is one of few mid-sized airports in the country seeing increased passenger traffic. People starting and ending flights at the airport have increased by every year since 2002, and cargo has increased by more than 500 percent since 2004. © Copyright 2009, wrkf