While major Florida airports are bracing for a quieter summer travel season, Lakeland Linder International Airport is bucking the trend.
Airport officials say nearly 4,000 passengers traveled through the terminal during the Memorial Day holiday week — a record for the facility.
The achievement stands in contrast to the outlook at larger regional airports. Tampa International expects a decline in traffic this summer due to flight reductions, with carriers such as American and United Airlines cutting routes across their networks.
Airport director Kris Hallstrand credited the airport’s size and accessibility as key factors in its appeal. He said the experience at Linder is far less stressful than at larger facilities, and that the airport is drawing travelers from well beyond Lakeland — increasingly pulling from the broader Central Florida region.
Avelo Airlines, the airport’s commercial carrier, plans to bring back two popular routes between Lakeland and Michigan this fall.
Linder also hit a broader milestone last month, surpassing 300,000 total passengers since launching commercial service in June 2024. Hallstrand said load factors are rising and airport leaders expect growth to continue.
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