Passenger numbers passing through Dubbo City Regional Airport reached the second-highest recorded in 2013-14.
According to the airport management, 186,203 people passed through the gates on regular public transport, eclipsed only by the 2007-8 figure of 193,125.
Dubbo Mayor Mathew Dickerson credited the city's burgeoning economy for the result.
It is very pleasing to see the rise in passenger numbers as it is one indicator of the health of the local economy and provides a platform for lobbying for additional services,” he said.
“Currently there are 152 flights in and out of Dubbo each week – that’s 6497 seats that can be filled each week.
“The airport expansion completed in the past 12 months including an extra 110 public car spaces, more secure undercover parking, the doubling in size of the departure lounge have all been designed to comfortably accommodate an increasing number of passengers.”
Qantaslink services recorded a 14.5% increase in passengers to and from Dubbo, with Rex seeing a 1% increase in their numbers.
The figures do not include all the private flights that use Dubbo, a popular refueling stop for general aviation aircraft on the Melbourne-Brisbane route, or for Sydney pilots heading into the outback.
The average of 21 RPT flights per day through Dubbo means GA pilots need to plan their arrivals ahead.