Pensacola International Airport Sees Record-Breaking 2 Million Passengers

More than 2 million passengers have passed through Pensacola International Airport this fiscal year, setting an all-time record for passenger traffic at the airport. 

From October 2018 through August 2019, 2,018,837 passengers have arrived and departed at Pensacola International Airport, with about a month left until the fiscal year ends on Oct. 1. This breaks last year's record-setting year of 1,902,671 passengers at the end of the fiscal year. 

Airport Director Dan Flynn credited local and regional economic development, business and tourism leaders for the increased passenger traffic, calling the airport a "barometer" of the local economy. 

"Airports don't create demand for air service," Flynn said when making the announcement at the mayor's weekly press conference on Monday, Sept. 16.  "Airports meet demand for air service. The demand is really created by the regional economy, whether it's the business sector of the regional economy, the leisure tourism sector of the regional economy, the military sector of the regional economy. We work with all those leaders to meet the demands that they have to support the area." 

Since October 2017, each month at PNS has either set a passenger record for that month or an all-time passenger record, Flynn said. The airport has seen particularly high passenger traffic this summer, surpassing 200,000 passengers each month from May through August. 

"I'm excited to see Pensacola International Airport continue to see record-breaking passenger traffic, which is a testament to the dedication and hard work by airport staff along with our local and regional partners who continue to attract visitors to the greater Pensacola area," Mayor Grover Robinson said. "Clearly the word is getting out about everything Pensacola has to offer, and I look forward to seeing the numbers at our airport continue to reflect our area's appeal on a national and international level."
 
“The Pensacola Bay Area is seeing the ripple effect of a community that loves to live here,” President of Visit Pensacola Steve Hayes said. “The destinations story is one that has gained traction both nationally and internationally thanks to the support of its valued residents and the many guests who've discovered it. Once you spend time on our award-winning beaches, eat our southern fusion seafood, take a stroll downtown, amongst so many other experiences, this city becomes a part of you. That support is what entices people to come here and keeps them coming back.”

For more information about Pensacola International Airport, visit flypensacola.com.