Bill Andrew, right, departs the ticketing counter at the Chattanooga Airport in this file photograph from June. Chattanooga Airport today reported that boardings grew 14 percent in 2014 to a record 352,459 passengers.
The new high mark beats the 311,204 passenger boardings posted in 1993, airport officials said.
"We knew in November that we were setting a new record and hoped the final numbers would be near 350,000," said Terry Hart, airport president. "But surpassing 352,000 far exceeded our expectations."
The Airport Authority cited the rise in customers to factors including airport convenience, competitive fares, introduction of larger aircraft, and stronger economic development in the region.
Dan Jacobson, Airport Authority chairman, said the city has seen continued steady economic growth.
"Our city's focus on technology, the Volkswagen expansion and the annual Ironman triathlon are just a few of the developments drawing new people to Chattanooga regularly and many of those people are using the Chattanooga Airport," he said.
See more in Wednesday's Times Free Press.