STL Passenger and Airline Activity Growth Holds Strong through 2nd Qtr. of 2017

Posted on August 02, 2017 in Media Releases

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) has recorded a total passenger increase of 5.9 percent for the first six months of 2017. The just-released air traffic activity reports for STL show the total passenger count (enplanements and arrivals) for January through June was 7,134,490 vs 6,734,342 million in 2016.

June also wrapped up STL’s 2017 fiscal year with the final total passenger count of 14.4 million passengers vs 13.3 million in FY16. That’s a 7.7 percent increase in passengers for the fiscal year.

June 2017’s total passenger traffic count showed an increase of 4.5 percent (1.4 million vs 1.3 million passengers) versus June of 2016. It also marks the 22nd straight month of total passenger growth for STL.

The strong growth is a result of airlines continuing to add more seats to the market with larger aircraft, additional flights to existing markets and new markets as well. Southwest Airlines added flights to Charleston, SC (CHS) and Pensacola, FL (PNS) in June. Through the first six months of 2017, total aircraft departures (all plane types) have increased 7.8 percent (45,450 take-offs). Commercial aircraft departures are up 7.9 percent through June of 2017.

Total aircraft operations (take-offs and landings) for the first six months have increased 3.1 percent. The Airport has handled 95,506 aircraft operations which includes commercial, general aviation and military aircraft.

Air cargo activity is also showing steady growth through June of 2017. The Airport has handled 70 million lbs of cargo, a 6.3 percent increase over the same time period in 2016.

Earlier this summer, STL re-opened a 4-gate section in Terminal 2 to accommodate the growth in service by Southwest Airlines. Southwest now has capacity to operate out of 17 gates with the opening of gates E34, E36 and E38 last month.

STL airlines are operating 261 daily departures during this peak summer travel period, which is seven more than in 2016. The airlines are flying to 69 non-stop destinations. In November, Southwest Airlines will add international service to Cancun. In December, Alaska Airlines will add a second daily flight to San Diego (SAN).