ASHEVILLE - Following the commencement of the largest construction project in Asheville Regional Airport's history, the airport marks another record-breaking year, showcasing continued double-digit growth. In 2023, 2,246,411 passengers traveled to or from AVL, a 22.2% increase over 2022 figures, catapulting the airport's annual passenger count beyond the 2 million mark for the first time.

Lew Bleiweis, President and CEO, stated, "The growth at our region's airport is not just significant; it's extraordinary. We extend our congratulations to our airline partners for their successes in Western North Carolina and express our gratitude to our region's travelers for consistently choosing AVL for their journeys."

The growth in 2023 can be attributed to several factors. First, airlines actively expanded their offerings, introducing new routes and enhancing services on existing ones. Airlines at AVL now offer 27 unique nonstop airport destinations, the highest in the airport’s history. This range of air service options provides travelers with increased choices and flexibility, whether departing from or arriving in AVL for their travel plans.

Second, local travelers demonstrated a strong preference for flying from their regional airport, a crucial element bolstering airline growth in the market.

Lastly, the region's prominence as a nationally-recognized travel destination played a pivotal role, with Asheville Regional Airport positioned as the gateway for many of the region’s visitors. 

“I would like to personally thank our local travelers and neighbors for their continued support and patience as we manage this ongoing, extraordinary growth,” said Bleiweis. “We are hard at work building the airport passenger terminal of our region’s future, more parking has been constructed, and we are focused on helping the passenger experience be as smooth as possible during this important and exciting construction period.”