Rapid City Regional Airport Set a New Record for Third Quarter Passenger Enplanements

Rapid City Regional Airport set a new Q3 record in 2024, with 145,201 passengers boarding flights, surpassing the previous Q3 high of 138,501 set in 2021. Year-to-date, 321,154 passengers have boarded flights in 2024, reflecting a 19% increase over the previous YTD record.

“Air travel is taking off in western South Dakota, and the record enplanement numbers show how much demand is growing for our region,” said Patrick Dame, Airport Executive Director. “A big part of this growth is due to more mainline jets coming in. These larger planes not only make flying more comfortable for passengers but also mean we need more space in our terminal to handle the extra capacity. On top of that, airlines are boosting capacity during the shoulder seasons, which helps keep the momentum going beyond the busy summer months.”

Rapid City Regional Airport is the only full-service commercial airport for the Black Hills and contributes over $456 million in economic impact annually to South Dakota. Our mission is to provide a safe, environmentally responsible, and fiscally self-sustainable operation, ensuring high-quality services and facilities. Our vision is to provide world-class transportation services, enhancing economic growth.

		2024	2023	% Change 2024 vs. 2023	2024 Year-To-Date	2023 Year-To-Date	% Change 2024 vs. 2023
September	Enplaned Passengers	45,545	37,660	20.9%	321,154	268,079	19.8%
	Deplaned Passengers	44,730	36,540	22.4%	326,831	269,442	21.3%
	Total Passengers	90,275	74,200	21.7%	647,985	537,521	20.6%
August	Enplaned Passengers	49,683	41,442	19.9%	275,609	230,419	19.6%
	Deplaned Passengers	50,292	40,165	25.2%	282,101	232,909	21.1%
	Total Passengers	99,975	81,607	22.5%	557,710	463,321	20.4%
July	Enplaned Passengers	49,973	42,761	16.9%	225,926	188,977	19.6%
	Deplaned Passengers	50,177	42,824	17.2%	231,809	192,737	20.3
	Total Passengers	100,150	85,585	17%	457,735	381,714	19.9%