Click here to view an image gallery from the event announcing SDF set another all-time passenger record.
The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is celebrating another record-setting year following 2024 with more than 4.8 million total passengers, marking the second consecutive year passenger traffic has reached an all-time high. Since 2019, SDF has experienced four of its Top 5 busiest years to date.
“Passenger traffic was up 3.6% year-over-year compared to 2023, which was a phenomenal year in itself,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “The fact that we continue to experience this level of growth and on-going investment by our airline partners speaks volumes in our industry about the great things happening at our airport. But more importantly, it’s an indication of the community’s strong support and the key role they played in helping us reach another record year.”
Of the more than 35 destinations with nonstop service at SDF, 25 of those routes saw an increase in their flight frequencies by the airlines. This gave travelers even more options to reach key business markets such as Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Plus, Charlotte, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis and Phoenix were the Top 5 markets that saw the most capacity growth in the overall number of scheduled seats by the airlines last year. In total, 20 routes at SDF experienced double-digit capacity growth in 2024.
“To continue passenger growth after an unprecedented level of growth in 2023 is a tremendously positive sign for our future,” said Anthony Gilmer, Vice President of Air Service Development and Strategic Marketing. “In 2024, we saw eight of 12 months set individual records, a record Derby weekend and a record summer travel season. With multiple new or expanded routes already announced for 2025, we continue to be very optimistic about the future of SDF.”
“Louisville’s vibrant tourism scene continues to draw visitors from around the world,” said Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism. “Following national recognition from outlets like Travel + Leisure and Southern Living that highlight Louisville as one of the best, SDF is continuing to make it even easier for visitors to reach Bourbon City while setting records for their busiest year yet. This year at SDF we were proud to see the opening of the New Airport Welcome Center, allowing our tourism experts to engage with out-of-town guests and further enhance their experience in our great city.”
SDF is served by eight commercial airlines – Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United – with flights to more than 35 nonstop destinations around the country. Annually, the airport averages more than 145 daily passenger flights. SDF has celebrated several recent successes including five of the airport’s Top 10 record-setting years since 2018 and being the fastest growing airport of the Top 100 airports in the continental U.S. in 2023.
Click here to view the fact sheet, SDF: By the Numbers in 2024.
