MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --People flying returned to Milwaukee's airport in big numbers in 2023. 

Mitchell International Airport says it welcomed more than 6 million passengers last year. That is an increase of more than 10% from 2022. It is the first time the airport has served 6 million people since before the pandemic. 

One factor cited in today's report is the addition of non-stop routes. Some of the new destinations are by airlines like Delta, Southwest, and American. 

They say the numbers also reflect the increasing desire to travel since COVID-19.