7 Achievements at Indianapolis International Airport in 2024

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is the busiest airport in Indiana and connects the Midwestern US to the rest of the country. With flights from nearly every major US carrier, IND has been a busier business in recent years.

Indianapolis International Airport provides substantial service to places throughout the United States and internationally. According to the Department of Transportation Statistics, budget carriers

While Indianapolis is not a Southwest hub, the airline operates a full schedule from the state capital and has a sizable operation.

According to Southwest, the city has become the 27th destination in its network. The airline originally entered the market on April 3, 1989, with 11 daily flights to Detroit and St. Louis.

Today, the airline operates up to 53 daily flights to 19 locations in the United States and North America. These include flights to major bases such as Denver International Airport and Houston Hobby International Airport, as well as popular tourist locations such as Fort Myers, Cancun, and San Diego. Southwest employs more than 270 individuals at its Indianapolis station.

American Airlines is the second-largest mainline operator after Southwest, followed by Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines. However, they carry far fewer passengers than the two market leaders.

It’s worth mentioning that Republic Airways, a minor airline that works with American, Delta, and United, contributes for over 14% of IND traffic. This makes it the third-largest operator at the airport, yet it operates under three distinct brand names.

2024 was a very significant year for the airport, giving Indianapolis residents more options when visiting. IND achieved seven important milestones last year, cementing its position as a major US airport. These accomplishments include more airline routes and additional federal cash to upgrade the facility.

1.Indianapolis was awarded one of the largest subsidies that the FAA pays out.

According to Indianapolis International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration awarded the airport $26.6 million in August 2024 as part of the seventh round of Airport Infrastructure Grants. In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $289 million in funding to 129 airports in 40 states.

Indianapolis will use the funds to rebuild Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D, which will improve safety for arriving and leaving flights.

The airport has already received a total of $146 million for this project, including previous grants. IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez expressed anticipation for federal funding:

Runway renovations are at the heart of IND’s ongoing efforts to renovate the airfield and increase potential capacity. The airport’s current three-phase renovation, valued at $295 million, will include LED runway and taxiway lighting. Many airports in the US are investing on lighting systems.

2. Indianapolis gets nonstop service to Nashville.

On August 22, 2024, Indianapolis Airport joyously reported that it had successfully landed a much awaited nonstop trip to a nearby city.

For for over seven years, the airport has worked with partner Southwest Airlines to establish direct service from Indiana to Nashville, Tennessee. Southwest’s efforts ultimately paid off when it announced a schedule extension that included flights in the spring of 2025.

Beginning March 6, 2025, Southwest will fly daily between Indianapolis and Nashville International Airport. While the airport’s managers cited enough local demand between the two cities to justify direct service.

Nashville became Southwest Airlines’ newest crew base. In addition to meeting local demand, this new service will improve connectivity to the rest of the airline’s network.

Southwest delayed the flight for one hour. Given the time difference between the two locations, the flight will depart and arrive at the same time, albeit in different time zones. The service will be available year-round.

Maggie Cunningham, IAA’s director of air service development, described how the new route will benefit Indianapolis travelers:

In addition to the new direct service, Southwest said that their Indianapolis capacity will be increased during the Spring Break season of 2025. This implies that Indianapolis residents will have more options when searching for flights, which is good for everyone.

3. Indianapolis marked the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

On a more somber note, Indianapolis Airport recognized and commemorated the loss and pain caused by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when a planned hijacking resulted in two aircraft crashing into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one in the fields of rural Pennsylvania following passenger intervention.

The airport holds an annual ceremony to remember the assaults. Local politicians and first responders joined together to memorialize the victims and first responders who died as a result of the assaults. A chunk of steel from the World Trade Center was even installed in Civic Plaza for a day.

The tribute’s goal is to bring people together and recognize the bravery of those who helped during and after the attacks. Keith Berlen, the IAA’s Senior Director of Operations and Public Safety, explained

4. Indianapolis is ranked first among US midsize airports.

When people think about customer satisfaction in the aviation business, they usually think of airlines, which are routinely recognized and examined for how they treat customers. However, certain companies, such as J.D. Power, identify airports that excel at providing a positive experience for travelers.

On September 18, 2024, Indianapolis Airport reported that it has been named first again by J.D. Power for customer satisfaction among America’s midsize airports. This is the third time in the airport’s history that it has ranked first on this list, demonstrating its commitment to providing a positive experience for its guests.

The airport received 687 points out of a possible 1,000, outperforming the other midsize airports featured in the rankings. Indianapolis ranked first for food, beverage, and retail options, as well as terminal facilities. The report is based on survey responses from 26,290 Americans and Canadians.

5. Indianapolis has direct flights to Europe.

Many midsize airports in the United States desire to offer direct connection to European destinations. The Airbus A321XLR, a new lower-capacity model, is making some of these objectives a reality. On October 21, 2024, Indianapolis International Airport announced that Aer Lingus will commence direct flights to its Dublin hub.

Except for a brief interruption in January and February, the service will be available year-round, four days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday). The service will be operated by an Airbus A321XLR with 16 business class seats and 168 economy seats.

Even Indiana’s governor, Eric J. Holcomb, expressed excitement for the new air service, praising its benefits to Indiana residents:

6. Indianapolis experienced remarkable expansion in a single day.

Aer Lingus is developing its US network in a fresh and bold manner, thanks to the Airbus A321LR and the future A321XLR. As of October 21, it intends nonstop flights to 18 US airports from Dublin, Shannon, and Manchester.

The inaugural Dublin-Las Vegas flight will take off on October 25, followed by Dublin-Nashville in April. Then there’s its newest destination, Indianapolis, which will begin four-times-weekly Dublin service in May. The obvious question is: where should it be added next, with narrow or wide bodies? Let us know your opinions!

It is evident that Indianapolis has experienced considerable development this year, although some domestic additions occurred on the same day. On November 20, 2024, Indianapolis Airport reported that Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air both announced new routes on the same day.

Allegiant now offers direct travel to Portland International Airport in Oregon. Frontier now offers direct services to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Tampa International Airport.

Beginning May 23, 2025, Allegiant will fly to Portland twice a week. Meanwhile, Frontier’s three-weekly service to Atlanta will begin on March 7, 2025. Its Tampa service, with the same frequency as the Atlanta flights, will begin one day earlier, on March 6, 2025.

7.Indianapolis experiences record-breaking passenger volumes.

Throughout the year, Indianapolis has demonstrated its standing as a rising airport. However, the milestone that most depicts this was on December 16, 2024. The Midwestern airport achieved a significant milestone by welcoming its 10 millionth passenger via IND.

The early months of the year predicted a new passenger record. In the first half of 2024, 5.2 million travelers passed through Indianapolis. Meanwhile, the airport handled 2 million people in June and July alone. July was one of the busiest months on record for the airport, with 971,000 passengers.

As Indianapolis commemorates a year of significant milestones, it can look forward to new route launches and ongoing expansion in 2025.

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