It’s official! CAK had a record year in 2008! 1.46 million peeps flew to/from CAK. Check out the presser here.

There are a handful of others that also set records- Burlington, VT, Portland, Maine, to name a couple- but what’s really neat is that we didn’t technically add new air service in 2008. We were blessed by some additional frequencies- 1 seasonal trip to DEN aboard Frontier and 2 additional flights (one Philly and one Charlotte) aboard US Airways. And, we didn’t loose too much during the great fuel surge. Whew!

I chatted with at least 5 reporters yesterday and they were stunned and delighted with the news. “How did ya do it?” they ask. Well, our excellent mix of carriers, low fares and easier customer experience turned out to be a powerful combination last year. Plus, we work hard to promote our airport, carriers and destinations. That makes a big difference too.

So what’s in store for 2009? Our airline capacity looks healthy in the first quarter; about the same number of seats available as last year. Lots of airports across the country are down substantially so we are pleased with “even”. Don’t get me wrong, I am feeling some anxiety about what’s happening in the economy but I think we are off to a strong start to the year anyway!

Of course, we are extra giddy about US Airways’ new service to DCA. A new year and a new destination. Pinch me because I think I’m dreaming…