The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority welcomed 2018 with positive growth and momentum at Toledo Express Airport (TOL). The airport closed out 2017 with a nine percent increase in overall passengers for the year. A total of 196,937 passengers flew through TOL in 2017, which helped drive the airport’s fifth consecutive year-over-year increase in passenger traffic and also marks the highest passenger total at the airport since 2008.
“2017 was a tremendous year at Toledo Express Airport and we sincerely appreciate the community’s support in utilizing Toledo Express Airport for their air travel needs,” said Paul Toth, president and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “As we look to build on the momentum of 2017, we continue to seek new air service opportunities for the Toledo region. The community’s continued support of existing service at TOL is an integral factor when an airline considers adding service. We encourage the community to continue to choose their local airport so we can continue to show airlines that the Toledo region can support new nonstop destinations out of TOL.”
This year’s passenger increase is largely due to American Airlines’ new, twice-daily nonstop flight to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The addition of this route will provide an economic impact of $15.4 million annually on the local economy, according to a recent study conducted by the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University. American Airlines, whose passenger totals were up 30 percent for the year, carried 87,156 passengers to and from TOL.
