TUL Seeking Intl Routes as Traffic Up 25%

Tulsa International Airport (TUL) hopes its first scheduled international passenger routes will take off within the next two years, outlining the potential of Mexican leisure markets. The Oklahoma airport, named Overall Winner at the Routes Americas 2023 Awards in March, is set to break ground on a $27.5 million federal inspection services facility, designed by Selser Schaefer Architects and Corgan. Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Pierini expects the 45,000-ft² facility to be ready in the first quarter of 2025, paving the way for international flights. At present, TUL’s existing U.S. Customs and Border Protection office can only clear private and charter flights of 20 passengers or fewer, as well as cargo services. “I’m particularly excited about the potential of a Tulsa to Cancun nonstop,” Pierini tells Routes. “Cancun is our largest international destination, and in peak summer season, Tulsa is the fifth-largest unserved market from the U.S. to Cancun.” TUL handled 2.9 million passengers in 2022, marking a rise of almost 25% on the previous 12 months. Traffic has now topped pre-pandemic levels for 12 consecutive months, with both leisure and business markets seeing strong growth. “Passenger traffic to our Florida markets continues to perform very well, and our westbound markets like Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas are some of our highest load factor performers,” Pierini adds. A key win during 2022 was American Airlines’ new route to New York La Guardia (LGA)—one of five new nonstops the carrier has launched from TUL since 2020 alongside Austin-Bergstrom, Miami, Phoenix Sky Harbor and Washington Ronald Reagan National. To support the launch of the LGA route—TUL’s only nonstop to New York—marketing activities included lighting the Williams Tower in Tulsa with “AA NYC” the evening of the route’s announcement, as well as social media competitions and working with publications in New York to promote Tulsa. Other recent route successes have included Southwest Airlines’ services to Austin and Chicago-Midway; Breeze Airways’ nonstop to Orlando and return to New Orleans; and Allegiant Air’s seasonal flights to Sarasota and Phoenix-Mesa.