BAY AREA, Calif. -- A struggling economy may have contributed to a 10 percent increase in Bay Area Rapid Transit ridership to the San Francisco International Airport over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Approximately 62,600 BART passengers passed through the station during that period, BART officials said.

BART board president Gail Murray said the jump exceeded the anticipated 5 percent increase over 2007.

"Clearly, a slowing economy has more people choosing BART over a high-priced cab or shuttle to the airport," Murray said.

In addition to ridership, BART also saw an increase in the purchase of airport/long-term parking permits.