Passenger traffic at West Virginia International Yeager Airport, known by the airport code CRW, has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
On Friday, Yeager airport officials announced that from January to June 2023, 24,284 more passengers traveled through CRW than in 2022.
In June alone, the airport experienced a 13.4 percent increase in the number of people boarding aircraft with a total of 178,888 passengers.
Airport Executive Director Dominique Ranieri attributes the growth to a strong rebound in the travel industry, convenient travel options and tourism efforts to market West Virginia as a sought-after travel destination.
“Everyone on the team here at CRW is so excited to see passenger numbers back at 2019 levels,” Ranieri said. “These numbers reflect people coming to West Virginia and also our community utilizing the flights that we have.”
Ranieri said the numbers also reflect the use of current air service in attracting new airline partners like Breeze Airways, which will offer nonstop flights to Tampa, Florida starting on Oct. 4.
Ranieri said as the travel industry continues its upward trajectory, more visitors are choosing CRW as their preferred gateway.
“As we have always said here at CRW, the only way to get additional air service is to use the service we have, and these numbers show that is happening,” Ranieri said. “We’re excited to share them with our airline partners to encourage additional frequency and new destinations.”
Ranieri also credited continued collaboration between airport, state and airline officials for the rebound, adding they are determined to further establish West Virginia as a premier destination for business and leisure travelers.