In 2016, passenger traffic at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport increased 1.97% over 2015, giving ICT the second busiest year on record with 1,602,311 total passengers. The busiest year occurred in 2008 when there were 1,619,075 total 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 the year, June, September and October set new monthly records in passenger traffic.
The growth in traffic is due in part to the addition of three new, nonstop destinations, St. Louis, Phoenix, and Orlando-Sanford, plus, the convenient and modern new terminal continues to draw passengers.
Capacity continues to be an issue, and flights have 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, will help. Also, American has added an MD80 on one of its 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.
