2014 was a good year for the Springfield-Branson National Airport. According to airport officials, it was the fourth busiest in the 69-year history of SGF.
The total passenger count was 846,324, a 12 percent increase from the year before. Brian Weiler, director of aviation, says 2014 was the best year the airport’s had since the beginning of the economic recession. He believes it’s a strong indication that the local and national economies are improving.
According to SGF, every month of 2014 showed strong growth, but the most was in July and September.
The airport’s marketing director, Kent Boyd, says passenger numbers at SGF were flat or negative from 2009 to 2013. He says the last time they’d seen double digit growth was in 2005.
According to Boyd, during the reception airlines made cuts at airport across the country, including in Springfield. But he says airlines are now bringing back seats to the market “because they see a strong demand here.” Airlines increased the number of seats in Springfield by 5.3 percent in 2014. Nationwide, airlines added 1.8 percent, according to SGF.
