Reno Airport Tops 4 Million Passengers in 2017

For the first time in a decade, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport posted more than four million passengers in a year. These strong numbers for 2017 were an increase of 9.6 percent over 2016. The last time RTIA recorded four million was in 2008.

In addition to more passengers filling seats, the number of seats available into and out of Reno rose 9.5 percent over 2016. Staff attributes this gain to airlines bringing larger aircraft into RNO and four new destinations added. Southwest began flying nonstop to Dallas Love Field in January 2017, and to San Jose in June. United Airlines commenced service to Chicago O’Hare in June and Frontier Airlines added Denver in November.

President and CEO Marily Mora confirmed that in conjunction with dozens of regional partners including the Regional Air Service Corporation, Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, the airport’s air service development team and the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees are constantly working with airlines to bring new destinations to RNO.

“The new non-stop flight on Frontier to Austin announced this month only cements the fact that Reno has the attention of our airline partners,” Mora said. “While the airlines are ultimately responsible for the routes they fly, the tremendous support we receive from RASC, RSCVA and the business community enables us to work as a team for the good of all. This regional support is paramount to retaining existing service and obtaining new flights in the future.”

Reno-Tahoe International Airport ended the year strong with increased passenger counts during the holidays. In December 2017, the airport served 321,857 passengers, an increase of 7.1 percent versus December 2016. This represents 31 consecutive months of year-over-year monthly passenger growth.

Air cargo recorded a slight downward shift from its high of more than 156,000,000 pounds in 2016. In 2017 the airport handled 152,135,268 pounds total.