EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) – An expansion is under way at Atlantic City Airport, and it appears to be just in time.

The airport announced Monday that it handled more passengers in 2010 than in any year since commercial service began there in 1985. More than 1.4 million passengers flew in or out of the airport last year, an 8 percent increase over the previous high set in 2007. It’s a 31 percent increase in scheduled service over 2009.

South Jersey Transportation Authority official credit the increase to added service routes to Atlanta and Boston. This spring, Spirit Airlines will launch service to Los Angeles and Las Vegas through Chicago.

The airport’s $25 million expansion will add passenger boarding bridges, more room for planes to park and an expanded baggage claim area.

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