The Raleigh-Durham International Airport continued to see a decline in travelers in July.

However, the 5.4 percent decrease in riders traveling through the airport last month was much lower than the 10.5 percent decrease reported by the Airport Authority Board for June. So far this year, overall traffic for the airport is down 11.6 percent.

In its meeting today, the airport board said part of the decline is due to a decrease in the number of flights being offered by airlines. The number of seats avaialble to passengers in July was down 7.8 percent when compared with a year ago.

Also during today's meeting, the board approved an expansion of the Gordon Biersch restaurant in the airport's new Terminal 2. Open since last October, the restaurant has become popular with business travelers. Construction on the expansion will begin in January.

The Authority also voted to open a wine bar and restaurant called North Carolina Vintages when phase two of the new terminal is completed early next year.