A record number of passengers arrived or departed from Huntsville International Airport in June, the second month in a row that HSV has reached a new high-water mark.

The 160,455 passengers were 9.1% above the total in June 2024 and up 4.7% for the calendar year to date, CEO Butch Roberts told directors during a meeting Tuesday.

Yet rail cargo traffic continued a three-month slide in the wake of multiple tariffs the United States has unilaterally imposed on numerous countries — tariffs that have led to higher consumer prices. The airport’s International Intermodal Center saw 2,198 rail lifts in June, down 10.1% year over year and a drop of 50% since March’s 4,400.

The latter was a record number as shippers sought to move inventory before President Donald Trump’s initial round of tariffs went into effect.

“[Companies are] adjusting for inventory and what’s going on with tariffs and trying to minimize that,” Roberts said. “We’re sightly up [on rail lifts] so far this month.”

Barbie Peek, chief business development officer for the airport, said the rail numbers were not a surprise.

“We continue to get some new customers, and we’re seeing growth in auto engine parts and general merchandise,” she said.

Air cargo freight weights were just over 5 million pounds last month, down 29.5% compared with June 2024 and down 22% year to date. Roberts said some of the drop could be attributed to the recent merger between European airfreight forwarding giants DSV and DB Schenker, a $15.9 billion deal that has resulted in the industry’s largest global firm.

DSV has a sizeable presence at Huntsville, Roberts said, and the airport is hopeful it will see more business as the new company comes to terms with its larger fleet.

Directors also approved the next steps in millions of dollars of improvements underway at HSV.

The airport will contract with Robins & Morton LLC for up to $7.1 million in upgrades to the concourse, including replacing tile with terrazzo, installing powered seats and tables and replacing carpet and ceiling tiles.

The firm will also expand the security screening queuing area, remove central planters and install additional lighting in the terminal’s waiting hall at a cost of up to $825,613.

The projects are funded by a grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.