OAG has released North America’s Fastest Growing Airports 2018. The new report ranks the region’s fastest growing hub airports (over 20 million departing seats) and midsized airports (three – 20 million departing seats) based on percentage growth in departing seat capacity between May 2017 and April 2018.
The fastest growing North American hub is Fort Lauderdale (FLL), which grew 11 percent, or two million seats, over the 12-month period. The airport’s growth was driven primarily by low-cost carriers (LCCs). Collectively, JetBlue, Southwest and Spirit Airlines combined operate two-thirds of total capacity at FLL, each with roughly similar market share. Southwest was the fastest growing airline of the group, adding 32 percent more capacity than the previous year. The fastest growing route from Fort Lauderdale is to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which operates 50 flights per day.
Newark (EWR) finished as the second fastest-growing hub airport in the region, with eight percent growth and 1.4 million new departing seats. Newark is United Airlines’ third largest hub after Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). United also controlled 65 percent of capacity at the airport over the 12-month period evaluated by OAG.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) increased its seat capacity by 7 percent, finishing as the third fastest-growing hub airport. MCO experienced growth from several major airline carriers in 2017-2018, with Southwest, Delta Airlines and Spirit Airlines combining to add 115,000 seats. Boston (BOS) finished fourth and San Francisco (SFO) fifth, both with a six percent growth in seat capacity.
“Low-cost carriers are driving exceptional demand and are the biggest contributors to airport growth in the North American market,” said John Grant, senior analyst of OAG. “These carriers have revolutionized the way consumer and business travelers get around and have opened up additional access to key connecting points such as Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG). LCC capacity was up 62 percent this year at CVG alone – a great example of how small and regional airports are effectively utilizing LCCs to appeal to a wider customer base.”
After Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), which grew 18 percent this year, the second fastest-growing mid-sized airport is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) with 16 percent growth. “Although most flights out of Austin are domestic (97 percent), international service from the airport is growing quickly at 22 percent, likely due to the city’s growth as a technology hub,” added Grant. San Jose and Burbank (15 percent growth each) and Cleveland (11 percent growth) round out the top-five fastest growing mid-sized airports.
