WEST BAY Discussion at a Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) board meeting Wednesday centered on good problems as the facility prepares to welcome new airlines and routes this spring.

All of our conversation has been about expansion, new service, said Chairman Till Bruett. It couldnt be a better conversation.

After reporting a passenger decline of about 7 percent for December, board members said they hope new year-round service on United Airlines and Silver Airways will help reverse the trend.

Both airlines will launch service in March, with United providing twice-daily service to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Silver Airways providing three daily flights, two to Orlando and one to Tampa.

Although December traffic was down, the number of passengers traveling through the Beaches Airport remained roughly flat in 2014. Airport Director Parker McClellan said the decrease was expected because Southwest Airlines dropped to just two daily flights for the winter this year.

I think the real positive note is the total passengers for the year was down 0.16 [percent]; earlier in the year I believe we were in double-digits, McClellan said. Overall, weve seen good performance, and its relatively flat year over year.

With the arrival of new airlines on the horizon, the board also discussed future growth plans for the facility, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary this spring.

Paul Puckli, a consultant crafting a 20-year master plan for the airport, said the most pressing projects include expansions of the terminal buildings baggage make-up room and security screening area.

With the fact that youve got some new service coming in, theres going to need to be some improvements to this terminal facility, Puckli said. Thats a good problem to have.

The master plan, which is currently under review by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation, projects passenger activity will double over the next 20 years, an estimate Puckli believes is still on target.

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Airport preparing for new service