You’ve done it again. 2019 was another record-breaking year for our airport! The total passenger count for the year was 1,187,068. That’s up 10.4% over the year before. Thank you for flying Springfield!

And not to overwhelm you with numbers, but 2019 marked our eighth consecutive year of growth — between 2011 and 2019 our passenger numbers grew a sizzling 62%. Wow!

Why such strong growth? It boils down to a good local economy. When the economy is strong folks have more expendable income. That means more people fly.

Are you ready for the holiday flying season? It'll be here before you know it so we've got some holiday flying tips for you!

The holidays are the time of year when infrequent (or first time) fliers fill airports across the country. With that thought in mind the we offer the following tips for new and infrequent fliers -

Sometime this week the 1-millionth passenger of the year will use the Springfield Airport. It’s the first time in history that that many people have used the airport is a single year. Civic leaders and airport customers gathered at the airport Thursday morning to celebrate.

Please forgive what we’re about to do; we need to administer some tough love.


On this, the first day of the summer travel season, we’ve got advice for everyone who flies from Springfield: arrive at this airport AT LEAST TWO HOURS before your flight’s scheduled departure time. If you get here at the last possible minute, you may get burned.

We know, you don’t want to hear it!

Those of you who fly frequently will likely find this story from the Associated Press of interest.

but our mid-year report card is pretty good!

July 2016 was the busiest month in the history of the Springfield airport — the total passenger count was 98,112. That’s up 4.6% from the previous record month, which was July of last year.

Overall, for the first seven months of this year, total passenger numbers are up 1.6%. If growth continues until the end of the year, 2016 will be the best year in the airport’s history.

LITHIUM BATTERY CONCERNS
 

Safety concerns over lithium batteries continue to grow. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a safety alert urging cargo and commercial airlines “to conduct a safety risk assessment to manage the risks associated with transporting lithium batteries as cargo.”

AUTUMN IN HAVANA?

An agreement approving airline service between the United States and Cuba was signed this morning in Havana.

Need a passport, or is the one you have expiring soon? If so, the U.S. State Department urges renewal ASAP. That's because the department expects an avalanche of renewals this year and next — so many that it may take longer than the typical six weeks to get a new passport.

PreCheck starts at SGF February 17. That word comes from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

If you’re approved for PreCheck you’ll be able to use a dedicated lane at the security check point and receive “expedited screening.” That’s jargon that means you won’t have to remove your shoes, belt, or “light jacket.” And you don’t have to take liquids and computers out of the bag.