Passenger boardings at Pine Belt Regional Airport for the first quarter were down significantly and the airport could lose $1 million in federal funds if the numbers don’t improve.

Airport director Tom Heanue said the airport saw 2,284 boardings, in the first quarter, an average of about 761 per month.

Heanue said the airport must board at least 10,000 passengers in a calendar year, an average of 833 per month if it is to continue receiving a Federal Aviation Administration grant.

Pine Belt Regional Airport is located approximately 10 miles north of Hattiesburg and 23 miles southwest of Laurel.