RDU is now the nation’s top fastest-growing large airport, by this measure
New flights and a strong local economy have helped make Raleigh-Durham International Airport the fastest-growing large airport in the nation in terms of airline capacity.
Airlines offered 190,000 more seats on planes leaving RDU in July than the same month last year, according to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation and published by the aviation analytics company Cirium.
That’s a 22.5% increase. That leads the 50 largest airports in the country, just ahead of Kansas City International, which has used the opening of a new $1.5 billion terminal earlier this year to attract new flights and airlines.
New airlines and new routes
RDU has grown its offerings as well. Since January, airlines have added 40 new routes from the airport, including 20 to new destinations. People can fly nonstop from the Triangle to 65 places, up from a pre-pandemic peak of 57.
Two start-up airlines, Avelo and Breeze, have established service this year to new cities such as Providence, New Haven, Sarasota and Fort Myers.
But the big carriers still dominate the market, with American, Delta and Southwest accounting for nearly 70% of passengers in July. Altogether, 15 airlines offer flights from RDU. Some — such as Alaska, Bahamasair, Icelandair and Sun Country — offer service to only one destination.
Growing choices have helped lure travelers back after the industry’s worst downturn in history in 2020. Through June, 6.75 million passengers have passed through RDU this year, slightly more than the same point in 2019, a record year for the airport.
RDU resumes expansion projects
After pausing work during the pandemic, RDU is again planning several expansion projects, including new gates in both terminals and thousands of spaces to its largest remote parking lot, Park Economy 3.
“We are seeing signs of growth everywhere at RDU, from new airlines and destinations to more passengers in the terminals and construction projects that will enhance the travel experience for airport guests in years to come,” Michael Landguth, the airport’s president and CEO, said in a written statement. “Summer continues to be our busiest season, and it is putting us on track for a record-breaking year.”
This story was originally published July 20, 2023 at 5:15 PM.
