Inside INdiana Business is reporting that Indianapolis International Airport says a record of more than 9.4 million passengers flew out of the airport in 2018, topping the 2017 total by more than 620,000. IND leaders say the record numbers were fueled by international passenger traffic that soared 77 percent compared to 2017, and West Coast flights that jumped 45 percent. Nonstop service to Paris began in 2018, and Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez says the flight has been performing well.
The airport says 2018 was also a landmark year when it comes to adding flights. In addition to Paris, IND added new nonstop service to Charleston, Oakland and Sarasota/Bradenton. Airlines also added flights to existing routes to destinations including Cancun, Seattle, Austin and San Diego. Overall, total flights were up by 4 percent, or more than 300,000 seats, in 2018, compared to 2017.
In December, Florida-based Spirit Airlines Inc. (NYSE: SAVE) announced it would begin daily, nonstop service to Las Vegas and Orlando in March, and add summer seasonal nonstop service to Myrtle Beach in May. Last month, IND announced that Indianapolis will host the 2020 Routes Americas conference, bringing hundreds of route planners to the city.
You can see the full 2018 Airline Activity Report by clicking here.