Evansville Airport Traffic Surges

American Airlines began service between Evansville and Dallas in June 2005.

It was a record year for the Evansville Regional Airport in 2015. The airport says passenger traffic rose more than 19 percent last year.

The airport says year-to-date passenger numbers totals over 208,000, up from nearly 175,000 in 2014. Executive Director Doug Joest said additional air service at the airport, lower average air fares and an improved economy in the region all contributed to the airport’s growth.

"We are very pleased with our growth and our positioning in the air travel market, and we are grateful that our communities responded to the additional capacity that we’ve added over the last year," said Joest. "Our average fares have dropped more than 11 percent over that last two years. Low-cost fares make a huge difference, and we are capturing passengers who in the past would have driven to competing airports."

The airport says plans are already underway for upgrades to the facility. A fifth jet bridge is being added at the airport this summer to accommodate passenger growth. A $10 million terminal renovation project will also begin this year thanks, in part, to funding from the Regional Cities grant to southwest Indiana.

"It’s an exciting project, and one that will provide our passengers more amenities and a better overall travel experience," said Joest. "It also positions us very well for future growth during a very competitive time in the industry."