In 2016, passenger traffic at Wichita Eisenhower National
Airport increased 1.97% over 2015, the second busiest year on record with
1,602,311 passengers.
The busiest year occurred in 2008 when there were 1,619,075
passengers. The 2016 achievement is significant because the capacity (number of
available seats) was down 15% compared to 2008, yet traffic was down just 1%
from that record year.
During 2016, June, September and October set monthly
records in passenger traffic. The growth in traffic is due in part to the
addition of three new, nonstop destinations; plus, the convenient and modern
new terminal continues to draw passengers.
Better capacity continues to be a goal; flights averaged
81% full in 2016. The addition of Alaska Airlines nonstop service to
Seattle in April and United’s return of a narrow-body jet to Chicago in April
are expected to help. Also, American has added an MD80 on one of six
daily flights to DFW and will increase frequency to seven in April.
Allegiant Air will resume seasonal nonstop flights to Orlando Sanford and Los
Angeles in May.
