Laramie Regional Airport saw passenger numbers soar in 2013.

The airport finished the year with 12,422 enplanements — commercial airline boardings. The airport also had 1,089 charter boardings, bringing the grand total to 13,511.

That’s up from 7,063 enplanements (8,163 including charters) in 2012 and 7,514 (8,562 including charters) in 2011.

Passing the 10,000-enplanements mark is crucial, said Jack Skinner, Laramie Regional Airport manager.

If fewer than 10,000 people board planes in Laramie, the FAA allots a $150,000 grant, he said.

If the airport passes 10,000 — as Laramie Regional did in 2013 — the award jumps to $1 million, he said.

The reason for the spike in Laramie Regional Airport commercial passengers is the airport switched from Great Lakes Airlines to SkyWest Airlines(UA) in November 2012, Skinner said.

“Reliability was the main reason,” he said. “Great Lakes just had too many delays and cancellations.” Every two years, commercial airlines submit bids to provide air service from Laramie to Denver.

In 2012, Great Lakes and SkyWest submitted bids.

Great Lakes’ bid was roughly $100,000 cheaper, Skinner said.

“But that’s not the determining factor,” he said. “Once those bids come in, the community has an opportunity to make comments — the airport, the (Laramie Area) Chamber of Commerce, the University (of Wyoming), Laramie Economic Development Corporation, WyoTech – and that weighs heavily into the decision.”

The community decided at that time it wanted a carrier with larger planes and more reliable service, Skinner said