RIC continues record-setting growth

Richmond International Airport continues to experience record-setting passenger traffic. The airport reported its busiest January ever this year, serving more than 260,000 passengers. That broke a record set just last year, when more than 256,000 passengers used the airport in January.

It was the fourth consecutive record month for passenger traffic at the airport, and the 3.65 million passengers who used the airport in 2017 also set an annual record.

“Airlines show confidence in a market by increasing seats and an ever-increasing number of travelers have been taking advantage of the expanded offerings conveniently available from RIC," said Capital Region Airport Commission president and CEO Jon E. Mathiasen

In January, Delta was RIC's market share leader, with 33.1 percent of all traffic. Three airlines reported year-over-year growth, including United (up 12.4 percent), JetBlue (up 6.5 percent) and American (up 3.6 percent).

So far in Fiscal Year 2018, passenger traffic is up 2.9 percent, while total cargo increased 3.2 percent in January when compared with the same period last year.

Overall, RIC has reported passenger traffic growth in 42 of the last 47 months.

Spirit Airlines will launch daily service from Richmond to Orlando and to Ft. Lauderdale beginning March 15, using 145-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

United is adding a second daily Denver departure, starting in June, with flights leaving RIC in the morning and again in the afternoon. The route launched in April 2016. United also is planning to add a second daily Houston flight in June.

JetBlue Airways will upgrade its twice-daily Orlando flights to mainline Airbus equipment for the summer. The route is currently served by 100-seat Embraer E190s.