News Summary
Tallahassee International Airport has seen an 8.5% drop in passenger traffic in June compared to the previous year, continuing a year-to-date decline. Despite a general increase in annualized passenger counts, the airport is grappling with reduced flight options and an ongoing high airfare issue, pressing officials to improve connectivity and service. The struggles are compounded by recent technical challenges, prompting calls for reevaluation of airport management and strategies amid shifting traveler demands.
Tallahassee, Florida – Tallahassee International Airport (TIA) experienced an 8.5% decrease in passenger traffic in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. This decline saw the number of passengers drop from 81,323 in June 2024 to 74,451 in June 2025, a reduction of 6,872 passengers.
Additionally, data indicates that year-to-date traffic from January to June 2025 has seen a decline of 3.95% compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Passenger counts for May 2025 also aligned with this trend, as a year-over-year decrease of 6.0% was recorded for American Airlines, while Delta Group saw an increase of 7.6%. Conversely, Silver Airways faced a substantial decline of 48.2%.
Notably, TIA underwent significant changes in its airline services last year, with JetBlue terminating its operations in November 2024, followed by Silver Airways ceasing service in June 2025. The annualized passenger count for June 2025 was reported at 948,372, reflecting a 3.10% increase from the prior year’s total of 919,834.
The airport reported that passenger traffic in May 2025 also suffered a decrease, declining 6.90% from 87,762 passengers in May 2024 to 81,743 in May 2025. Despite these changes, the average airfare at TIA stands at $561.69, making it the most expensive among the 150 largest airports in the United States.
In terms of passenger rankings, TIA is positioned 146th out of over 400 airports based on passenger volumes and fares. Criticism has surfaced regarding the limited flight options available to central and south Florida, emphasizing a demand for improved connectivity and reduced fares within the region.
Local government officials and airport authorities are facing increasing pressure to enhance air service and tackle the high airfare situation for travelers. Current efforts to attract new airlines or expand existing services have been minimal, prompting concern among local representatives regarding the management of the airport.
Moreover, TIA has encountered technical challenges that have further complicated operations. Recent incidents of TSA security checkpoint outages due to equipment failures have put additional strain on the airport’s functionality. In light of these ongoing challenges, some local officials suggest that a reevaluation of airport leadership or structural changes may be necessary to enhance service and lower costs for passengers.
The current economic landscape and changing travel demands have spurred discussions around TIA’s operational strategies and potential partnerships. With shifting traveler behaviors and preferences, local stakeholders are actively exploring ways to remediate the situation in order to foster a more robust airport environment that better serves its community.
As June 2025 unfolds, the continued decline in passenger traffic raises concerns about TIA’s ability to competitively serve its market, prompting a need for policymakers and airport officials to urgently address the challenges at hand.
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Additional Resources
- Tallahassee Reports: Airport Traffic Falls 8.5% in June
- WTXL: Tallahassee International Airport Experiencing Delays
- Tallahassee Reports: May Airport Traffic Down 6.8%
- Tallahassee.com: Tallahassee Airport Has Highest Average Ticket Price
- WPTV: Small Plane Crashes Near Boca Raton Airport
- Wikipedia: Tallahassee International Airport
- Google Search: Tallahassee airport traffic news
- Google Scholar: Tallahassee airport
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tallahassee International Airport
- Google News: Tallahassee International Airport traffic
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
