Flying out of MSP? You’re not alone as passenger levels and international routes increase

Maraya King, Pioneer Press
·1 min read

You weren’t imagining it. If last year felt busier than recent years at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, that’s because it was — and by quite a margin.

The number of passengers at MSP surpassed 34.7 million for 2023, up 11 percent compared to 2022, according to a news release from the airport. Traffic is still short of the record 39.5 million passengers set in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The largest contributing factor came from international travel, which accounted for 2.98 million passengers, a 47 percent increase compared to 2022.

“We are encouraged by the rebound in international service to new and existing destinations,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, in the release. “We continue to see growing demand for travel overseas, to Canada, and to warm and sunny destinations across Mexico and the Caribbean.”

International service from MSP increased last year with WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, launching its first service from MSP as well as Delta resuming its service to Tokyo.

This year will see more international service with WestJet adding service to Regina, Saskatchewan, Aer Lingus resuming service to Dublin and Delta launching flights to Dublin as well.

German airline Lufthansa will also launch its first service in Minnesota this summer with year-round flights between MSP and its Frankfurt hub.

Delta was the top airline at MSP by a landslide, followed by Sun Country, then Southwest, United, American and Spirit airlines, per the release.

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