Indianapolis Airport sees record numbers as it unveils multiple new flights in 2024
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the airport's senior director of commercial enterprise. She is Marsha Wurster.
The Indianapolis International Airport saw 9.7 million passengers flow through its gates in 2023, making last year not only the airport's busiest year since before the COVID-19 pandemic but its busiest ever. In addition, the airport plans to see multiple new flights in 2024, including nonstop flights to Panama City, Florida, during the summer.
This year will also will bring an influx of travelers for special events as well as the completion of a pair of major construction projects, said Marsha Wurster, the airport's senior director of commercial enterprise.
Here is what we know about where the airport stands after 2023 and what will come in 2024.
Passenger travel eclipsed pre-pandemic levels
More than 9.7 million people flew through Indianapolis in 2023, a 12.6% increase from 2022 and a 2.6% increase from 2019. Wurster attributed the rise in passengers to an increased appetite for travel, more business trips and more available flights. Total flights were up 7.9% relative to 2022, and airline seat capacity increased by 16.5%.
New flights include San Francisco and Panama City, Florida
Airlines continue to add or resume flights in the wake of the pandemic. Southwest Airlines will fly daily to Panama City in June and July and to San Diego year-round. Frontier Airlines recently announced it will offer flights to Philadelphia, while Sun Country Airlines will offer roundtrip flights from Minneapolis in April in preparation for the solar eclipse. Passengers can also catch flights to Salt Lake City on Delta starting March 10.
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Business travel making a return with 'bleisure' is on the rise
As in-person work events regain popularity, the airport has seen an uptick in business travel. Nearly half of all air travel (46%) out of Indianapolis was for business, with leisure making up 52%.
The remaining 2% represents a combination of both, which Wurster called "bleisure." With remote work more mainstream than ever, laptops and flip flops are sharing suitcase space.
Fall break is the new spring break
The biggest travel season in 2023 wasn't the winter holiday or spring break but fall break. The airport saw more than 950,000 passengers in October, while spring break travel fell just short of 900,000.
Seven of the airport's busiest days ever came in October in 2023, though none toppled the deluge of travelers that arrived to the Circle City for Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.
Indy 500 weekend reigns supreme
Despite the surge in fall break travel, Indianapolis' two busiest days came Memorial Day Weekend. Time will tell whether the NBA All-Star game next week, the solar eclipse in April or the Taylor Swift concerts in November lead to even more flights this year.
Favorite destinations include Orlando, Denver, Las Vegas
Unsurprisingly, Orlando and Las Vegas received plenty of flights from Indianapolis. An average of 714 people flew daily to Orlando, which has been the airport's most popular destination for as long as Wurster can remember.
Denver came in second with 490 flights per day, though Wurster said Denver is a popular layover site. And Vegas, which will host this year's Super Bowl, remain a favorite at number three.
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Years-long construction projects will wrap up
Shortly before the pandemic, the airport launched a $76 million project to expand its parking garage with five additional stories providing 500 more public parking spots and 1,000 rental car spaces. The project, which Wurster said should finish this summer, will bring the garage to just under 6,000 public spots and more than 2,000 rental spaces.
Later in the year, the airport expects to reopen its second runway, which has been under construction since 2022. With a $190 million budget, the project aims to refurbish the 30-year-old runway. It is expected to last 40 years.
Staffing, supply chain are key challenges
Even as the aviation industry ascends to heights it hasn't seen since 2019, obstacles remain. Wurster said the pandemic pushed many career pilots to take early retirement packages, forcing many airlines to ramp up recruiting efforts.
Republic Airways' LIFT Academy regularly pursues high schoolers, while the Federal Aviation Agency's ACE Academy recruits students as young as middle school in efforts to build enthusiasm about careers in aviation.
Aircraft availability is also a challenge, with aircraft part orders often taking longer. Wurster said Indianapolis' success may help draw such resources here.
"We're sort of in line and waiting at the top of the list with several airlines once they do have crew and aircraft," she said. "We've helped build that confidence so we can be on the top of the list as they roll out new markets."
Airline capacities are boosted for All-Star weekend, Taylor Swift, other events
The airport consults regularly with groups like Pacers Sports and Entertainment, VisitIndy, Indiana Sports Corp and more on pretty much every major event in Indianapolis.
"We know every day of the year what to expect," Wurster said.
In 2024, seven of the eight airlines that operate in Indianapolis increased their flight and seating numbers through June.
"Airlines can bring more seat capacity into this market, and Hoosiers are going to fill those planes," Wurster said.
Contact Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@gannett.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy Airport sees record numbers as it prepares for jam-packed 2024
