By the Caribbean Journal staff

After more than a year of significant year-over-year monthly declines, San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport saw a surge in traffic last month, according to a new report from ASUR, which operates the airport.

San Juan’s airport saw 526,761 passengers in September, a 56.6 percent jump in traffic compared to September 2017, when the airport received 336,406 passengers.

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico.

For the year, Puerto Rico’s major airport has reported 6.86 million passengers, down 7.3 percent from 6.362 million at this time last year.

While September was the month when Hurricane Maria hit the island, the performance represented the first positive growth for the airport in more than a year, according to ASUR data.

The data from October and November will be particularly telling for the airport’s continued recovery efforts.

— CJ