CLE Making a Comeback...

Passenger traffic at CLE continues to rebound.

More than 9.1 million passengers traveled through the city of Cleveland-owned airport in 2017, an 8.5% increase over the 8.4 million passengers using the airport in 2016.
In December alone, 2017 passenger traffic was up 14.7%.
This is the first time passenger volume at Cleveland Hopkins reached 9 million travelers since 2013, the last year United Airlines operated a hub there. At that time, a large chunk of the traffic was connecting flight traffic, with passengers only changing planes at the airport. After that "dehubbing," Hopkins lost 17%of its passenger volume.

In 2017, Hopkins was either the origin or final destination (O&D) of 96% of passengers, the highest O&D traffic at the airport, according to an airport news release issued Friday morning, Jan. 19.
"The growth in passengers flying to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a testament to the airport's focus on growing air service and the quality of the traveling public's experience," said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson in the release. "It is also evidence of our region's increasing reputation as a key destination for regional, national and international travel."

Airport management has recruited a handful of new airlines to fill the void left by the closing of United's hub, restoring nonstop service to a number of cities formerly served by United. That includes Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit airlines. In addition, two international airlines, Icelandair and WOW, will begin service between Cleveland and Keflavik International Airport in Keflavik, Iceland, in May. That airport is a gateway to a number of European cities.