‘Phenomenal’ Growth Continues in Fort Wayne

By Dan McGowan | Inside INdiana Business

The airport in the state's second-largest city is hailing a record 2016. Fort Wayne International Airport says nearly 366,000 passengers took flights out of FWA in 2016, topping the previous record set in 2000. Though not the highest in history, total traffic increased for a seventh consecutive year. Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority Executive Director of Airports Scott Hinderman says "butts in seats" will always be the determining factor for additional or expanded flights.

Hinderman says challenges lie ahead, but the airport is experiencing "phenomenal" growth. "The routes that you have at any community are really a direct effect of the business and the growth of the economy in your area and northeast Indiana is doing great," said Hinderman. "The things that bug me is that there is a serious pilot shortage." He adds that airlines are also reducing the number of smaller aircraft, which is another issue for airports like Fort Wayne.

The airline has nonstop service to hubs including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York City/Newark and weekly nonstops through Allegiant. Hinderman says a next major target is connectivity to Denver, which serves as one of the country's largest hubs for flights out West and internationally.

You can read more about the growth at FWA by clicking here.