Post Pandemic Rebound Continues

2022 passenger numbers at the Springfield airport were up 14.5 percent over the previous year with 1,109,529 total airline passengers. The increase made 2022 the second-best year in the airport’s history.

Second best isn’t normally an item of note, but it’s nearly a complete recovery from the
passenger downturn created by the pandemic when annual passenger numbers were down more than 50 percent.
 

YEAR	TOTAL PASSENGERS	CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
2022	1,109,529	+ 14.6%
2021	968,227	+ 61.7%
2020	598,604	-  49.6%
2019 *	1,187,068	+ 10.4%
* Record year

Several factors appear responsible for the upswing. They include the strong performance of the Springfield area economy, and pent-up demand. People were eager to travel after more than a year of staying home due to the pandemic.

Other airport metrics also show improvements:
 

• In 2022 the number of airline seats available in Springfield rose 4 percent over 2021. That indicates growing passenger demand.
• Flights leaving Springfield were 88 percent full on average. That’s eight percent better than 2021.
• 8.5 million gallons of aviation fuel was loaded on board aircraft — a nine percent increase over 2021.

Four airlines serve Springfield: Allegiant, American, Delta, and United. They provide service to 13 non-stop destinations: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Orlando, Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, and Punta Gorda.