CLEVELAND — Air travel was on the rise in Cleveland last year, with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport reporting major growth in its passenger activity.
In 2023, the airport, and its airline partners, served 9,868,868 passengers — a 13.5% increase from 2022 of 8,693,866 passengers served. The airport said that's a 98.3% recovery from 2019.
More passengers were at the airport in September, October and November when compared to the same months in 2019, while December 2023 was on par with December 2019.
“We had two new airlines start service during the year, one with Transatlantic service, contributing to our growth. Our established airlines are expanding flight schedules and adding seats to better meet demand for air travel at Cleveland Hopkins,” said Bryant Francis, C.M. and director of Port Control.
Passenger activity continued to strengthen throughout the year, setting the stage for a busier 2024.
“We are encouraged by the operational results representing the final months of 2023," Francis said in a news release. "As one of our longtime airlines establishes a base of operations at CLE beginning this spring, expect more new service announcements to support that investment. My team continues to discuss and propose new and/or expanded air service with numerous airlines, some of which do not presently serve CLE. We have a great story to share with airlines about Northeast Ohio and its air travel market.”
According to a news release, current activity forecasts 2024 passenger traffic will surpass 2019 activity.
To match the anticipated traffic, CLE will begin the planning effort of the Terminal Modernization Development Program this year. Early elements of the program are anticipated to begin by the end of 2025, the centennial anniversary of CLE. The airport opened in 1925 as the first city-owned airport in the United States.
Paslay Group, a national airport development consultancy, is providing management services for planning, implementing, and delivering the program. Included in the program are upgrades to the 1950s-era main terminal and concourses, improved ticketing/check-in space and expanded security checkpoint. Alongside these improvements are projects for improved roadways, a ground transportation center, an increase in the number of walkable public parking spaces, a consolidated rental car facility, and improved transit system accessibility and convenience.
The airport is expected to hire a designer this year to formalize plans for the new terminal.