The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport has reported startling monthly declines in air traffic over the past year, marking a significant drop in business that forced officials to scale back their expansion plans.

For a year now, the airport has handled fewer and fewer passengers every month, something that could be blamed on higher fuel costs, flight cutbacks and fewer business travelers. In February, the airport processed almost a third fewer customers than it did in the same month last year.

Airport general manager Richard Howell said the numbers reflect the instability of the economy, something that has affected airports and airlines everywhere.

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