Fresno airport reaches passenger milestone, again. Several reasons behind growth
For the fifth year in a row, Fresno Yosemite International Airport has broken its own record for passengers flying in and out of the airport.
In 2025, the region’s airport served more than 2.7 million travelers, a 2.97% increase over the total in 2024, airport officials said Tuesday.
“The continued growth in passenger traffic at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) reflects our airline partners’ confidence in the region’s strong demand for air travel,” said Francisco Partida, interim director of aviation. “As more travelers choose to fly Fresno and fill seats, airlines recognize the need to expand service to meet this growing demand. This growth demonstrates FAT’s emergence as a dynamic travel hub.”
In 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic suppressed airline travel, flights hit an all-time low of just under 1 million, The Bee reported.
Since then, FAT has seen a steady increase in travelers. The number of arriving and departing travelers surpassed 2 million for the first time in 2022, hit 2.4 million in 2023 and approached 2.7 million in 2024.
The announcement of FAT’s most recent record-breaking year comes just one month after the opening of its $150 million new terminal expansion, the largest expansion in the airport 80-year history.
The project was aimed at delivering “an enhanced travel experience for passengers flying through FAT,” the airport said in a Dec. 19 news release.
The Fresno airport was ranked as one of the best small airports in the country, and the only one of its kind in California, according to USA Today readers.
What spurred 2025’s record-breaking number of passengers at FAT?
Officials pointed to several factors for the airport’s rising passenger traffic.
- International passenger numbers continued to grow in 2025. Over 433,600 travelers flew between FAT and Mexico, representing a 4% increase over the 416,885 passengers recorded in 2024.
- The introduction of twice-daily nonstop service between FAT and San Diego International Airport, operated by Southwest Airlines.
- The return of United Airlines’ seasonal nonstop service to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport during the spring, summer and winter holiday periods.
- Service to Salt Lake City International Airport on Delta Air Lines increased from three to four daily flights.
- Service frequency to Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, on Southwest Airlines, expanded from three to four daily flights during the peak summer season.
- Twice-weekly nonstop service to Dallas Love Field resumed on Southwest Airlines from June through August.
FAT also handled over 20 million pounds of cargo in 2025.
“Surpassing 2.7 million passengers in 2025 marks a significant milestone for Fresno Yosemite International Airport and our region,” Mayor Jerry Dyer said. “The airport remains a powerful driver of jobs and economic growth across the Central Valley, and with an expanded terminal, a new International Arrivals Facility, and enhanced concessions, we are well positioned to welcome even more travelers to Fresno.”
What can travelers expect at Fresno airport in 2026?
New dining options, including Mad Duck and Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant, are set to debut in February.
An ongoing Terminal Refresh Project is aimed to enhance the existing concourse by remodeling and replacing key elements throughout the facility. This initiative is designed to create a seamless transition between the existing and newly expanded terminal, delivering an improved and modernized passenger experience, according to airport officials.