The numbers are in: Asheville Regional Airport posts a second year of historic growth

Asheville Regional Airport celebrated its second consecutive year surpassing 2 million passengers, with 2,174,125 travelers in 2024, despite a 3% dip following storm-related disruptions. The airport continues to solidify its role as the region’s gateway, driven by increased airline services, new nonstop destinations, and strong support from local residents. Construction on the new concourse, set to open in 2025, remains on schedule, reflecting the airport’s commitment to meeting the demands of its growing passenger base and delivering world-class service. AVL has a $3.9 billion economic impact on the region and support for 22,745 jobs in western North Carolina.

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) announces two years of two million passengers. The airport served 2,174,125 passengers in 2024, the second highest number in the airport’s history. This huge year of passenger utilization comes after the stunning 22.2% increase in 2023, that yielded the first-ever year of serving more than 2 million annual passengers.  Year over year, Asheville Regional Airport had only a modest decrease from its previous record-setting year.

The 3% decrease in passengers comes in the months immediately after the impacts of Helene. “We knew the storm could affect passenger numbers,” said Lew Bleiweis, President and CEO, “To surpass the 2 million passenger mark for two years in a row is a testament to our community. AVL continues to be an important gateway to and from western North Carolina.”

The first three quarters of 2024 maintained and surpassed projections based on 2023’s passenger data and demonstrated the popularity of the region as a nationally recognized travel destination. Local residents maintained the trend of flying from their preferred regional airport, and the airlines increased their services, adding frequency, replacing smaller planes with larger jets to accommodate more passengers, and announcing new nonstop destinations. This included addition of nonstop flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO).  Bleiweis focused on the positives of 2024, “We want to extend our gratitude to our airline partners for continuing to believe in our region as a premier destination and to our residents for choosing to fly local and using AVL as their airport.”

Construction on AVL Forward, specifically Phase One of the project which includes the new north concourse slated to open in summer of 2025, has continued uninterrupted. “Our region’s travelers have been patient, and we are looking forward to this summer’s unveiling of the new north concourse,” said Bleiweis, “Over two million passengers, two years in a row, demonstrates how much this region needs an airport than can provide world-class service in a larger space, designed to accommodate our historic growth.”

Earlier in the month the North Carolina Division of Aviation released its biennial economic impact report titled The State of Aviation. The report highlights the economic impacts of North Carolina's airports, including jobs, income, and spending generated by on-airport operations, capital projects, and services. 

Asheville Regional Airport supports 22,745 jobs, over $1 billion in personal income for the region, and $3.9 billion in economic impact for western North Carolina.

These numbers highlight the contributions of leisure and business travelers, airport tenants, and general aviation activities, such as jobs supported by airport-dependent businesses and visitor spending. This comprehensive assessment underscores the vital role AVL plays in the region's economy.

The third-busiest commercial service airport in North Carolina, AVL is served by five airline partners:  Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, and United, who offer nonstop service to 27 unique airport destinations throughout the country.  To learn more, visit www.flyavl.com.  To learn more about the airport’s construction project that will result in a new airport passenger terminal, visit www.flyavl.com/avlforward.  

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