St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) Statistics

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is a predominantly domestic airport, with international passenger traffic accounting for only a very small share of total volume and disappearing entirely in recent years.

• From 2014 through 2019, PIE handled roughly 610,030 to 1.12 million domestic passengers per year, while international traffic typically totalled just 6,677 to 9,718 passengers annually, representing well under 1% of overall traffic.
• During the pandemic, domestic volumes fell sharply to 687,140 passengers in 2020 and recovered to 1 million in 2021, while international traffic dropped to just 2,189 in 2020 and 1,238 in 2021.
• A brief uptick occurred in 2022, when international traffic rose to 12,560 passengers, but domestic traffic still accounted for virtually all activity at 1.19 million passengers.
• In 2023, the airport handled 1.22 million domestic passengers compared with 8,108 international passengers.
• By 2024, international passenger counts fell to zero, while domestic traffic remained strong at 1.21 million passengers. The airport remained entirely domestic through October 2025, when it recorded 1.17 million domestic passengers and no international passengers.

Aircraft activity at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport reflects a mixed-use profile, combining commercial airline service, general aviation, and a long-standing military presence.

• General aviation has historically accounted for the largest share of operations, though its activity has gradually declined from pre-2015 levels.
• Commercial airline operations expanded steadily over the past decade, rising from about 9000 air carrier movements in 2014 to about 16,000 in 2024.
• Military activity, primarily linked to U.S. Coast Guard operations, remained a consistent component of traffic, averaging 5000-9000 operations per year before tapering slightly in recent years.
• In 2025, total activity declined from the 2024 peak, with reductions visible across all major operation types through October.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport’s route network is heavily oriented toward mid-sized U.S. cities, with traffic spread across a range of domestic markets.

• Knoxville and Asheville ranked as the busiest destinations in 2024, each handling around 65,000-70,000 passengers.
• Several Midwestern markets featured prominently, including Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, and Des Moines.
• Secondary leisure and regional routes such as Allentown, Flint, Concord, and Lexington rounded out the top ten.
• No single destination dominated traffic, indicating a broadly distributed route mix rather than reliance on one or two trunk routes.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport generated about $24.1 million in operating revenue in fiscal year 2024, reflecting strong post-pandemic growth driven by rising passenger volumes and commercial activity.

• Operating revenue increased from about $10.8 million in 2014 to nearly $17.9 million by 2018, supported by expanding airline service and non-aeronautical income.
• Revenue dipped slightly in 2019 and fell more sharply in 2020 as the pandemic reduced air travel demand.
• A strong recovery followed, with operating revenue rebounding to about $17.7 million in 2021 and surging past $22 million in 2022.
• Growth continued through 2023 and 2024, with revenue reaching its highest level to date in FY2024.
• Fiscal year 2025 data has not yet been filed and is therefore not included.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport posted about 80% on-time departures and about 76% on-time arrivals in the most recent reporting period (November 2024 through October 2025), based on major U.S. carriers only.

• On-time performance improved compared with 2024, rising from 77% to 80% for departures and from 73% to 76% for arrivals.
• Average delays remained significant when disruptions occurred, with about 69 minutes for delayed departures and about 106 minutes for delayed arrivals in the latest period.
• Cancellations dropped to about 1.1% in the most recent period, down from 2.6% in 2024.
• The latest period includes 1,433 flights, reflecting partial-year reporting for the November 2024-October 2025 window.

Two fatal general aviation accidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are documented in the available reports for PIE.

• In July 1993, a Beech C23 (N60093) crashed while maneuvering to land after a go-around, resulting in 3 fatalities and 1 serious injury.
• In September 2015, a Piper PA-30 (N21ND) crashed during takeoff, resulting in 1 fatality.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport ranked 95th in the United States by commercial-service enplanements in calendar year 2024, placing it in the small-hub category under FAA classifications.

• In 2024, PIE recorded about 1.23 million enplanements, slightly below its 2023 level of about 1.25 million.
• The FAA classifies PIE as a primary commercial service airport and a small hub, based on its share of total U.S. passenger boardings.
• Rankings are based on enplanements (passenger boardings) rather than total passengers, which include both arrivals and departures.