This milestone is based on statistics published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which releases quarterly data on airports, airlines, fares and on-time performance.
The most recent statistics, based on the second quarter of 2022, ranked Pensacola International Airport #82 out of over 400 airports in terms of total passenger travel. The increase in passenger traffic has increased Pensacola’s ranking to 82nd, a relatively modest rise considering its historical ranking in the high 90s throughout the pre-pandemic years. Those same statistics also showed PNS maintaining airfares on par, and in several cases, lower than other Gulf Coast airports.
Pensacola International Airport Director Matt Coughlin said the data reinforced what airport officials have heard from passengers: That the airport exceeds expectations for service and value, in a complicated and competitive airline industry.
“This is a great testament to the hard work of our air service team and our partnership with the airlines to make Pensacola the Gateway to the Gulf Coast,” Coughlin said. “We aren’t a major population center or airline hub, so we’re not going to have the same fares as Atlanta or Orlando. But we offer more flights, more options, and better fares than most airports our size.”
Coughlin said a recent ranking on average fare prices at PNS neglected to account for the size of different airport markets and the variety of airlines offered at each airport. The ranking also only included the top 100 airports. Of the 437 commercial airports in the United States, Pensacola International ranks 249th in highest fares.
“We do everything we can to provide a range of travel options for passengers, but there are a host of factors that play into airline pricing, many of which are out of the hands of the Airports they serve,” Coughlin said. “You can sometimes find a cheaper flight somewhere if you’re willing to fight traffic and drive for hours …but if you want to fly easy, we’ve got you covered here at Pensacola International Airport.”
For more information about the latest Bureau of Transportation Statistics, click here.
To learn more about Pensacola International Airport or to book your next flight, visitflypensacola.com.
