INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 9, 2017) – The Indianapolis International Airport
(IND) reports it anticipates setting a new record for passenger traffic
in 2017, and is just one flight away from hitting the airport’s all-time
high in nonstop flights leaving out of Indianapolis.
Based on monthly trends in passenger traffic, the Indy airport broke
records three times this year, in the months of January, May and June.
The airport anticipates it will exceed the 8.5 million passenger traffic
record it set in 2016.
IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez said there are many contributing
factors to the record growth.
Rodriguez also noted that the Indy airport has announced or launched 11
new flights to date in 2017, including the first transatlantic nonstop
flight out of Indy. That flight will be offered through Delta Airlines
to Paris beginning May 24, 2018.
“That puts us at 38 flights added since 2014, and 48 nonstop
destinations available to date – the most number of nonstops since the
new terminal opened in 2008,” said Rodriguez. “We are among the top 10
most connected medium hub airports in the U.S.”
Rodriguez’s data comes from the most recent MIT Airport Connectivity
Quality Index, which places the Indianapolis International Airport fifth
in the nation for best connected among airports in its class, and
predicts that with recent and future service additions, the Indy airport
will maintain or enhance that strong position.
Nonstop air travel is crucial to passengers and Indy businesses, with 40
percent more passengers using nonstop flights out of Indianapolis to
access final destinations in 2017.
“Compared to 11 other peer midsize markets, we have more nonstop
destinations and more daily departures on average,” said Rodriguez.
Southwest Airlines currently makes up the bulk (34%) of the airport
passenger traffic, with American and Delta airlines each making up 22
percent respectively. United Airlines currently makes up 13 percent of
the Indy airport’s passenger traffic, and Allegiant (4%), Frontier (3%)
and Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and OneJet collectively making up
approximately one percent – per 2017 year-to-date numbers.
“I’ve said it many times this year, and the data backs it up — the
investments our airline partners have made in the Indianapolis market is
a testament to the value they see in our city and the state,” said
Rodriguez.
Last year, the Indianapolis airport operations contributed more than
$5.4 billion dollars to the Marion County economy, and supported more
than 22,000 jobs.
Click here [1] for the mid-year 2017 Airline Activity Report.
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ABOUT THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT AUTHORITY
The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest
airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport,
its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark,
Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport and Metropolitan
Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as
a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in
2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Airports Council
International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. It has also been
inducted into the ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence, one of the
few U.S. airports to be included in this elite group of worldwide
airports. Condé Nast Traveler readers named IND the best airport in
America in 2014, 2015 and 2016. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to
win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus. LEED is a green-
building award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. IND
has won additional recognition for excellent customer service,
concessions programs, and art and architecture.
IND generates an annual economic impact in Central Indiana of more than
$5.4 billion without relying on state or local taxes to fund its
operations. About 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves
more than 8.5 million business and leisure travelers each year and
averages 143 daily flights, seasonally and year-round, to 48 nonstop
destinations. Home of the world’s second-largest FedEx Express operation
and the nation’s eighth- largest cargo facility, IND is committed to
becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo
service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at Indianapolis
International Airport [2]and Twitter page at @INDairport [3].
