<|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - With the unofficial kickoff of summer comes the new, sunny destination of Destin - Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., helping boost numbers at the Springfield - Branson National Airport to record levels<wm> in years.
The Springfield - Branson Airport handled 14.4 million passengers in January of the prior year which is a jump of nearly 65% more from January 2020.

According to airport authority leaders, the airport had some 11.2 million in January of the prior year.
"We're thrilled about how well the airport did, and that suggests our new marketing and development strategies for promoting Destin will continue to bring more visitors from the Midwest to the airport in the coming year,"</wm> said airport spokesperson.

Sprague's new development strategies and marketing tactics have been focused on providing guests with