Airport Experience® News - Conference Issue 2025

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

of additional events. We’ll also make targeted airline headquarter visits throughout the year. We do have some bright spots, including Delta Air Lines restarting nonstop service to its Salt Lake City hub last fall, after a several-year break. And Aer Lingus began serving Cleveland in May of 2023, and they’re going to increase flights to Dublin to a peak of six times weekly service for the upcoming summer season. In terms of goals for domestic service, we are working to reestablish nonstop service to San Diego and secure service to Kansas City. We’re hoping to see increased capacity to Washington, DC and New York City, among other markets on the list. WARD: Can you give me an overview of CLE’s terminal redevelopment plans? FRANCIS; The oldest terminal infrastructure at CLE opened to the public in the mid-1950s. There have been several expansions over the decades – Concourse D is the newest of those facilities, but even it is 20 years

due to a reduction in seat capacity. In late 2023, Spirit Airlines began to reduce its footprint at CLE and that continued throughout 2024. Conversely, we had Frontier Airlines increasing its presence and establishing a “focus city” here in Cleveland. It was announced early 2024 – much of the capacity increase that they brought into the market occurred between April and August. Then Frontier reduced their schedule to be in line with diminished [winter] demand. We also had some smaller seat reductions with other carriers Through November, we had total passenger traffic of about 9.4 million. We’re expecting the total for the year to be nearly 10.2 million – up about 3% over 2023 and up about 1.5% over 2019. WARD: I assume you’re focused on air service development, correct? FRANCIS; Yes, we’re continuing to engage with several airlines to reverse the seasonal reduction trend. We’ll be attending Routes Americas and also intend to participate in a couple

Above: Compared to many medium-hub airports, terminal facilities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are aging. Plans are underway for an overhaul to update spaces, add amenities and enhance the passenger convenience.

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AX NEWS MARCH 2024