This week GRCVB looks back on a busy year for RDU International Airport and the burgeoning domestic and international tourism markets for Raleigh/Wake County. We're sharing highlights from the past calendar year at our world-class gateway...

Record passenger traffic in 2024

Welcoming more than 1.3 million guests in the month of December (a 12.4-percent increase over Dec. 2023), RDU ended the calendar year with 15.5 million travelers compared to 14.5 million in 2023 (an increase of 6.5 percent). 


New flights, international and domestic

RDU celebrated the launch of three new international routes during 2024. Lufthansa now offers nonstop service from Frankfurt, Germany, providing convenient access from Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. Copa Airlines initiated flights from Panama City, affording travelers easy connections here from Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Additionally, Aeromexico began flights from Mexico City on July 1, making it then RDU's 10th international route. Even more domestic and international routes were announced in 2024 (15 new routes total, some noted below starting by mid-2025). 

In addition to its international draw, RDU welcomed passengers on new domestic routes and airlines in 2024. Breeze Airways debuted service from San Diego (SAN) on April 30, along with routes from Syracuse (SYR) and White Plains (HPN), N.Y.; Burlington (BTV), Vt.; and Portland (PWM), Maine, in May. Avelo Airlines launched nonstop service from Albany (ALB), N.Y., on May 10, providing access from a previously unserved destination to RDU. Finally, Frontier Airlines expanded its offerings as well with nonstop flights from Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Miami (MIA), Milwaukee (MKE) and Tampa (TPA).


New dining options

Wake Forest's Black & White Coffee Roasters opened in Terminal 2, offering exceptional coffee and an all-day menu. This addition is part of RDU’s ongoing effort to reimagine terminal dining with more new concepts planned. Among these, Crawford's Genuine opened this summer at Terminal 2, Gate C1, featuring a menu curated by six-time James Beard-nominated chef Scott Crawford. The restaurant serves dishes like wood-grilled beef ribeye, grilled Carolina trout and breakfast bowls, all reflecting strong local flavors and fresh ingredients. Carolina Craft also opened this summer at Terminal 2, Gate C12, providing unique local beers and spirits, celebrating the Carolinas' vibrant craft beverage scene.


RDU's sustainability report

RDU published its first Sustainability Program Annual Report, detailing efforts to integrate sustainable practices in every aspect of the airport's operations. Key initiatives included hiring a dedicated energy manager, reusing construction materials and engaging with local governments on sustainability. Learn more about RDU's sustainability efforts and see the full Sustainability Program Annual Report at www.rdu.com/sustainability.
 

Wrapping up 2024 and excited to grow in to 2025

Significantly, RDU was named the fastest-growing Top 50 airport in the country in 2024 (22% growth year-over-year). New flights incoming for the year ahead include: Avelo Airlines launching two international routes nonstop into Raleigh in February from Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Air Canada beginning nonstop service to Raleigh from Vancouver this summer; BermudAir commencing nonstop flights from Bermuda; and Canadian airline WestJet debuting nonstop services from Calgary to our region.

With these new airlines, route/frequency additions, even more locals-led dining options and major infrastructure projects underway or on the horizon, the RDU Airport Authority remains dedicated to providing a world-class guest experience for visitors/area residents and serving as a vital economic engine for this region. We can't wait to see how the rest of 2025 unfolds!