Eastern Iowa Airport sets passenger record in 2023

CEDAR RAPIDS — Breaking a record reached before the pandemic, passengers set a new high in 2023 for using The Eastern Iowa Airport.

About 1.4 million total passengers chose the Cedar Rapids airport in 2023, breaking the record of about 1.3 million total passengers set in 2019, the airport announced Tuesday.

Airport Director Marty Lenss said in a statement that the driving force was related to an increase over the last year in flight options at the airport, known by the airport code CID. Three new destinations added in 2023 were Fort Lauderdale on Allegiant, and Washington, D.C., and seasonal service to Miami on American Airlines.

“Last year, we saw three new nonstop destinations added to CID,” Lenss said in the statement. “With nonstop flights to 19 different locations, CID is providing travelers throughout Eastern Iowa and the greater region the best option for business and leisure travel.”

Lenss says, in particular, the addition of American’s nonstop service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, known by the airport code DCA, was a “game-changer.”

“We continue to see strong passenger numbers on this route. In fact, American has found peak times where they have added two daily flights,” Lenss stated. “We have many business people who use the flight for work in D.C., as well as those who understand DCA is a great way to connect to popular East Coast destinations.”

When The Eastern Iowa Airport recorded the 2019 passenger total, it had service to 13 nonstop destinations instead of today’s 19.

“When airlines see passengers using the airport, it gives them more confidence in looking at adding flights to existing destinations and potentially service to new cities,” Lenss said.