Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Expects Another Busy Summer

Increased capacity and more flights give travelers even more options

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is preparing for another busy summer travel season with 3% more scheduled capacity – or an average of 2½ more flights each day – compared to last year, SDF’s best year yet. New this year is the addition of nine nonstop options to take advantage of on multiple airlines.

“This summer we have nine additional nonstops that were not available last year to some favorite go-to vacation destinations,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “With the schedule increases from the airlines, more flight options and continuing the positive momentum of the past year – we feel confident as we look ahead to what will be another busy summer at SDF.”

Just in time for summer, Breeze Airways, Spirit Airlines and Southwest Airlines have added a combined nine new flights, helping travelers reach some of their favorite warm weather cities.

Breeze has added nonstop service to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and extended seasonal flights to Fort Myers (RSW). New nonstop offerings from Spirit include Atlanta (ATL), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Newark (EWR), Myrtle Beach (MYR) and Tampa (TPA) as well as Detroit (DTW) that begins on Friday, June 13. Rounding out the summer is Southwest’s addition of new Nashville (BNA) flights that launch later this year on Tuesday, August 5.

Travel Tips

With the large volume of passengers expected in the coming weeks, below are several helpful tips for SDF travelers.

• Arrive 2-hours in advance of the flight’s departure. This allows plenty of time to park, check-in and go through the security checkpoint before boarding begins. Remember, most airlines begin boarding 30-minutes before the flight’s scheduled departure time.
• Temporary parking closures are possible as parking areas become full, especially in the Garage and Surface Lot. Travelers are encouraged to take advantage of convenient parking in the Premier East or Premier West Lots as well as the Express Shuttle Lot. All information is available at SDFPark.com, including real-time status updates for each parking area.
• Save on parking with SDF’s Express Shuttle Lot that is only $5 a day with advanced registration ($8 without advanced registration) at SDFPark.com.
• Travelers can also save $5 on their rideshare to SDF through Uber or Lyft. Visit FlyLouisville.com/Save5 for details and promo code information.
• Check-in before leaving home and closely monitor the flight’s status through the airline’s website or mobile app.
• Remember the 3-1-1 rule when packing – no more than 3.4 oz of liquids, gels, creams and aerosols are allowed per container and all must be placed in one, clear 1-quart size bag in a carryon. Anything larger than 3.4 oz must go in a checked bag.
• If traveling with any food items or beverages – including alcohol – travelers should visit TSA.gov for more information on how to secure their goods in your checked bags.