Fort Lauderdale Airport’s Soaring Passenger Growth: Competing with Major Travel Hubs

One of Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s biggest advantages is its seamless access to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)— a gateway fueling the city’s rise as a premier business and travel hub.

As Fort Lauderdale cements its reputation as a global destination, FLL’s continued expansion is setting the stage for even greater growth. Keep reading to see how its passenger numbers compare to other rising cities.

Since 2019, major airports in Florida have experienced varying levels of passenger growth, with Fort Lauderdale leading the way. Fort Lauderdale saw the highest increase, adding 7.3 million more passengers, making it the fastest-growing airport in terms of passenger volume. Orlando followed closely behind with an increase of 6.6 million passengers, and Miami added 4.8 million passengers. In contrast, Tampa and Palm Beach experienced more modest increases, with passenger growth of 1.7 million and 1.5 million, respectively. This data highlights Fort Lauderdale’s rapid expansion as a major travel hub, surpassing even Orlando and Miami in post-2019 passenger growth.

In 2024, FLL served over 35 million passengers, connecting travelers to more than 135 domestic and international destinations. With 700+ daily flights, the airport links Fort Lauderdale to major markets across the globe, making it a key driver of our community's economic and tourism boom.

What does it all mean:

FLL has experienced a strong post-pandemic recovery compared to other leading international airports and is well-positioned to drive further investment into our community. When complete, FLL’s expansion will add capacity to serve an additional 15 million passengers each year, amplifying connections into DowntownFTL from destinations near and far.