The airport set an all-time record for passenger traffic in 2011.

PASSENGERS                         vs.  2010

Enplaned             430,756              +21.0%

Deplaned             429,332              +22.5%

    Total               860,088              +21.7%

Passenger Enplanement Share by Airline

United                                              33%

Delta                                                31%

Allegiant                                          19%

American                                         13%

Frontier   (1/2 year)                          3%

The TSA plans to deploy an Advanced Imaging Techology (AIT) unit to the Sioux Falls Airport.� This equipment will provide the primary screening for passengers going through the security checkpoint.�� This advanced technology will reduce the number of pat down searches that are not required for passengers with artificial joints or other medical issues.� Read more about it at"http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm

Work continues on our mult-million dollar parking lot renovation.  Work completed so far:

- Long-term parking areas resurfaced and open.

- New entrace plaza open for both long-term and short-term parking.

- New entrance signage.

- New Exit Plaza open with new exit onto Minnesota Ave.

- New ticket-less gate equipment to speed entrance and exit from the lot.

- Passenger Pick-up Waiting Area.

Work in progress:

- Currently Short-Term lot closed for reconstruction. Hope to open by Oct. 13th.

- New Pedestrian median in front of terminal - Oct. 13th

- Second chance entrance to both short-term/long-term lots, Oct. 20th.

- New traffic signal at Jaycee Lane and Minnesota Ave, Oct 7th.

- New Curbside Canopy outside luggage claim area, Oct. 13th.

- Landscapping for entire area completed by mid-November.

We realize construction has and will create traffic bottle-necks and longer walks and we sincerly appreciate your patience

and understanding this summer and especially the next few weeks!

More passengers used the Sioux Falls Regional Airport in July than any other single month in the history of the airport.  41,433 travelers departed FSD in July an increase of 23.4% over last year and 40,039 arrived.  Year-to-date the airport has seen an increase of 19% in passenger traffic compared with the same period last year and we are on track to have the busiest year on record.

United Airlines carried the most travelers with 33% of the market followed by Delta at 26% and Allegiant at 22%.   

Air Cargo also saw are rebound in business with 2,379,539 lbs of freight departing FSD which was 31.6% higher than last year. 

Our new restaurant is now open on the concourse past security!  Travelers will now have a wide variety of food choices to chose from when traveling including expanded seating which will accomodate four times the number of the old location with an awesome view of the airfield.  The new restaurant will feature Red Stone Pizza Company freshly baked pizza from our new pizza oven as well as Caribou Coffee and all the many food options from Marlin's Express.  The expanded bar along with new video lottery room and video game room are also open providing vastly improved ammenities for passenger's departing or arriving into the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.

Passenger enplanements were up 16.5% for the month of May totaling 33,746.  The airport is up 17.8% compared with the first 5 months of 2010 and is still on pace to break the yearly record set in 2007.

Frontier Airlines new service is coming soon!  Beginning July 4th low fares are returning to Sioux Falls on Frontier Airlines.  With convient connections and low fares book your trip today on:  www. FrontierAirlines.com.

A complete renovation of the public parking lot began the first of May and will continue through the summer. As a result the total number of spaces available has been reduced which may limit parking. If your plans allow, consider getting a ride to and from the airport or use a taxi service to ensure your travel plans are not disrupted. Thank You!

The month of March was one of the busiest ever for the airport.  Passenger enplanements set an all-time record for the month with 37,120 departing passengers which was 25.3% higher than the same period last year.  United Airlines led the way with 30.1% of the market but increased flying by Allegiant Airlines improved their share to 28.4%.

Improved consumer confidence, more affordable air fares and the long, cold winter were major contributors to the imrovement.  Year-to-date the airport is seeing an increase of 20.2% vs. 2010.

As airfare rates fall, a Sioux Area Metro (SAM) bus painted to look like an airplane is the latest development in a effort to build awareness and traffic at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. Covered by a printed "wrap", the bus promotes new American Eagle flights to a Dallas and Chicago, and is a joint effort by the airport and American Airlines/American Eagle.

Designed by Steve Brummond, Senior Air Director at Sioux Falls Marketing firm Media One, the bus looks like a flying airplane from the side, complete with waving passengers. The bus will fly the streets of the city for a full year. See what the bus looks like below!

Frontier Airlines announced today new service from Denver to Sioux Falls beginning July 4th. The new route will be operated by 99-seat Embraer aircraft arriving in Sioux Falls at 6 pm and departing to Denver at 6:30pm. Introductory Fares will be as low as $74 each way and are available now on FrontierAirlines.com. Not only will Frontier provide non-stop service to their hub in Denver but convient and affordable connections are available to the following cities: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake, Colorado Springs, Aspen and Dallas. Frontier has service to over 70 cities nationwide through hubs in Denver, Milwaukee and Kansas City. Seasonal service is also provided to many Mexican resort destinations, Costa Rica and Anchorage/Fairbanks during the summer.

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Passenger Traffic at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport continues a healthy rebound from last year with January enplanements topping 16.6%.  This is the fifth consecutive month of double digit increases.  Traffic for 2010 increased 7.0% compared with 2009.  February is off to a strong start and hope to see the trend continue!

Construction Projects continue at Joe Foss Field.  Our 18 month terminal remodel project is complete and became operational in early January.  This remodel has greatly expanded the lobby space, moved all luggage screening behind the scenes and provides for future expansion.

Our Concourse/Gate remodel project is ongoing with an anticpated opening of new gates #1 and #2 by mid-April.  The new concourse restaurant and lounge is set to open June 1st.  The project will continue with renovations and expansion to gate #3 and #7 for the remainder of this year.   See phots of the project so far:

American Eagle will add a second daily non-stop flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth beginning Dec. 19th. The new flight will depart Sioux Falls at 4:35pm and arrive in Dallas at 7:00pm. The return flight departs Dallas at 2:05pm arriving in Sioux Falls at 4:10p. The additional service will enhance connections to warm weather destinations this winter with convenient connections to many destination in Mexico, the Carribbean and South America.

The number of passengers flying out of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport was up 16.8% in October compared with this time last year.   Year to date enplanements are up over 5.2% with seven consecutive months of positive growth.  The economic recovery, improved consumer confidence along with lower fares has helped drive increased flying out of FSD.

Passengers               October 10               October 09             % Change

                                  33,101                       28,335                   +16.8%

                                  YTD  2010                 YTD 2009           % Change

                                  292,022                       277,594                + 5.2%

The Sioux Falls Regional Airport Authority approved a Master Parking Plan at a recent board meeting.  The plan identifies improvements to the current lot that will be constructed during the summer 2011.  The $4 million dollar project will include the following improvements:

• New entrance and exit booths/equipment
• Realigned parking lanes to improve flow between lot and terminal
• New entrance and exit to Minnesota Ave. with traffic signal
• New dropoff/pickup traffic median in front of terminal
• New paperless ticket equipment

The long-term plan also identifies the potential for a parking deck in front of the terminal and parking garage located to the south of the baggage claim area.  

Sioux Falls Regional Airport is now on Facebook!

Our site will have current construction photos, events, travel specials, as well as weather events. All in one convenient location!

Visitors to the Sioux Falls Regional Airport are in for a pleasant surprise and a look at the future of the airport facility. Phase I of the construction at the North end of the terminal is complete.

The primary purpose of the construction is to upgrade the facility to support enhanced airline service. The new area will increase our ability to attract additional air service and improve the passenger experience.

Passengers will immediately notice the relocation of the large baggage screening equipment to be in line with the conveyer systems. The baggage system decreases the manpower required to screen bags and eliminates the need for passengers to check-in and then stand in line to have their bags screened.

Total project cost should be around six million dollars.

Phase I was opened for use on May 11 and included:

• the demolition of the entire North end of the terminal and the expansion of the building to the north and west
• new airline offices
• improved communication lines supporting self-check-in kiosks
• in-line baggage handling & screening for phase I and the oversize baggage system
• heating/cooling system upgrades that will support the current building and upcoming expanded concourse

Phase II is under way and is schedule for completion in late November. Phase II includes:

• demolition and reconstruction of the remaining original ticket counter area
• demolition and reconstruction of the lobby gift shop
• in-line baggage handling system serving the phase II ticket counters

Concourse Expansions Underway.

The concourse construction has begun. The three goals of the construction are to expand the food service available to passengers on the concourse, to increase the space available at passenger gate areas and to expand aircraft parking options.

The airport currently has peak passenger demands exceeding the capacity of the building forcing passengers to wait in the main corridor or gate areas away from the assigned departure gate.

All phases will include the renovation of the building interior and heating/cooling systems. This will provide a much more pleasant experience for our passengers.

The construction is expected to be about a 2 1/2 year project.

The project is scheduled for five phases and will include:

• constructing a new restaurant located immediately after the passenger screening checkpoint
• relocation of gate 1 holding area
• expansion of gate areas by eliminating the “saw-tooth” pattern of the building
• construction allowing the installation of two new passenger loading bridges
• reconstruction for an expanded concourse gift-shop
• construction of a business lounge
• construction of new airline operations areas
• construction of additional restroom facilities