The rise in passenger traffic is attributed to an increase in domestic passengers, according to DTW officials.
By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub
ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com
Published March 2, 2020
2019 was a big year for Detroit Metro Airport.
Airport officials said Monday that DTW reached record numbers for passenger traffic in 2019.
According to data released by the airport’s Department of Financial Planning & Analysis, 36,769,279 passengers traveled through the airport in 2019.
The airport says traffic increased by more than 1.5 million travelers compared to 2018 and the 4.3 percent year-over-year increase can be attributed to an increase in domestic passengers.
“Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport had a very successful year in 2019,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Chad Newton. “In one year, we’ve reached the highest number of total passengers, ranked highest in customer satisfaction according to the J.D. Power 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, and earned top honors from Airports Council International as one of the best airports for customer service in the Airport Service Quality Survey. We will continue to work hard for our passengers who have put so much faith in us.”
The number of outbound passengers visiting or residing in the Detroit area, also known as origin and destination, or “O & D traffic,” contributed to the jump in total passengers.
The airport set an all-time record for O & D traffic in 2019, with a nearly 6 percent increase from the previous year.
“This is the fourth consecutive year of record O & D traffic,” said WCAA Director of Air Service Development Joe Cambron. “Electrification and self-driving vehicle engineering job gains drove Detroit air traffic to new highs. Detroit’s economy is strong, and DTW offers many direct flights to more than 140 nonstop destinations, which allows us to service those traveling for leisure or business.”
Airport officials say several domestic routes were added last year, most notably routes from Sprint, Frontier, and Delta Airlines.
The remainder of 2020 will also bring some noteworthy developments for DTW.
Lufthansa will begin nonstop service from DTW to Munich, Germany beginning in May.
A nearly $21 million food and beverage transformation in the North Terminal will reach completion, and Taxiway P will be reconstructed along with a new connector taxiway, completing the two-year project on Runway 3L/21R.
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