STEWART AIRPORT – For the first time in three years, Stewart Airport hit the 400,000 passenger mark for the year, reaching 413,815 passengers in 2011. In the previous two years, it came close, but did not reach that milestone.

In 2008, some 780,000 people flew from the Newburgh airport and in 2007, 893,000 people used the facility. The numbers fell dramatically when AirTran pulled service, followed by the recession.

The growth is a sign the economy is turning around, airport business development director Michael Torelli told the Stewart Airport Commission Tuesday.

“The 813,815 is a direct attribute to the added service that both Delta and Jet Blue did in 2011 and we hope to maintain these numbers and hopefully with a little more service in 2012, surpass them,” he said. “It’s the best numbers we have had since 2008 and hopefully these numbers are an indication of an economy rebound.”

Cargo carried through Stewart for the year skyrocketed, going from 12,925 tons in 2010 to 16,483 tons in 2011.