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Published Sep 9, 2026
Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is Colorado’s second-busiest airport and the primary air gateway for the Pikes Peak region. It connects Colorado Springs to destinations across the United States through multiple partner airlines. The airport is a joint civil-military facility, sharing some operations with Peterson Space Force Base.
How many passengers pass through Colorado Springs Airport each year?
Colorado Springs Airport handles over 2 million passengers annually. It has experienced steady growth since 2021, especially after Southwest Airlines entered the market.
- The airport served 2.45 million passengers in 2025, marking a slight decrease from 2.47 million in 2024.
- In 2019, the airport reached 1.67 million passengers before the pandemic.
- Passenger traffic dropped to 727,742 in 2020, a 56% decline, then recovered to 1.86 million in 2021.
- Growth continued in 2022 with 2.13 million passengers, followed by 2.35 million in 2023.
What is the total number of aircraft operations at Colorado Springs Airport each year?
Colorado Springs Airport sees over 150,000 takeoffs and landings annually, including commercial, general aviation and military operations.
- In 2025, there were 163,627 aircraft operations, a 1.5% decrease from 166,109 operations in 2024.
- The airport recorded 135,431 movements in 2019.
- In 2020, operations declined to 121,807, though the drop was not as sharp as the decrease in passenger traffic.
- The airport recorded 137,314 movements in 2021, 143,376 in 2022 and 157,414 in 2023.
Types of Aircraft Operations
General aviation makes up the majority of operations at Colorado Springs Airport.
- In 2025, general aviation accounted for 107,762 operations.
- Air carrier and air taxi operations totaled 22,574 and 17,477, respectively.
- Military operations added 15,814.
| Aircraft Operation Types at Colorado Springs Airport (2019-2025) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Air Carrier | Air Taxi | General Aviation | Military |
| 2019 | 13,740 | 15,554 | 72,857 | 33,280 |
| 2020 | 8,123 | 10,144 | 76,510 | 27,030 |
| 2021 | 16,593 | 14,607 | 82,785 | 23,329 |
| 2022 | 19,371 | 11,700 | 89,063 | 23,242 |
| 2023 | 21,558 | 14,470 | 101,237 | 20,149 |
| 2024 | 20,837 | 17,586 | 106,999 | 20,687 |
| 2025 | 22,574 | 17,477 | 107,762 | 15,814 |
Which airlines operate the most flights out of Colorado Springs Airport?
Southwest Airlines leads passenger market share at COS, with legacy carriers maintaining smaller but steady shares.
- In 2025, Southwest carried 44.6% of enplaned passengers (548,743 passengers), making it the dominant carrier.
- United Airlines accounted for 26.9% (330,891 passengers).
- American Airlines had 16.8% (206,685 passengers), primarily serving Dallas/Fort Worth.
- Delta Air Lines held 9.3% (114,057 passengers), serving Salt Lake City and seasonal Atlanta.
- Allegiant Airlines made up about 2.4% (29,968 passengers).
What are the monthly trends in passenger traffic at Colorado Springs Airport?
COS sees distinct seasonal patterns, with summer and holiday months drawing the most passengers.
- July was the busiest month in 2025 with 242,314 passengers.
- June had 235,642 and August followed with 230,053.
- October had 223,870 passengers, while May completed the top 5 busiest months with 220,982 passengers.
- February was the slowest month at 156,177, preceded by January as the second-quietest month with 159,638.
How many routes are there at Colorado Springs Airport?
As of 2025, the Colorado Springs Airport (COS) offered approximately 20 nonstop domestic and international routes.
- In February 2025, Allegiant added three new nonstop routes to Phoenix/Mesa (AZ), Santa Ana/Orange County (CA), and St. Pete/Tampa (FL).
- In June 2025, COS made history by launching its first scheduled international route, offering seasonal nonstop flights to Cancún, Mexico.
Which destinations are the most popular from Colorado Springs Airport?
- Denver, CO (DEN) was the busiest route in 2025, carrying 372,020 passengers, despite being just 70 miles away.
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) followed with 196,590 passengers.
- Phoenix, AZ (PHX) served 113,690 passengers.
- Dallas Love Field, TX (DAL) saw 96,050.
- Las Vegas, NV (LAS) rounded out the top five with 94,670.
How many cancellations occur at Colorado Springs Airport annually?
COS maintains a low cancellation rate, though it has varied in recent years.
- In 2025, 1.39% of domestic flights were cancelled.
- The cancellation rate peaked at 3.84% in 2020 during the pandemic.
- It dropped to 2.31% in 2021, then rose slightly to 2.49% in 2022.
- By 2023, the rate improved to 1.39%.
- The rate further improved to 1.11% in 2024.
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What are the main causes of flight disruptions at Colorado Springs Airport?
- Winter snow often requires de-icing and runway clearing, especially from December through March. COS has received awards for snow removal efficiency.
- Summer thunderstorms may cause brief delays, usually under an hour, due to nearby lightning.
- Air traffic flow restrictions into Denver International can lead to short delays for COS departures.
- Occasional mechanical issues with aircraft, though less common than weather-related delays.
- High spring winds can slow operations if crosswinds exceed safe limits, though such events are rare.
What are the notable incidents at Colorado Springs Airport?
- March 3, 1991: United Airlines Flight 585, a Boeing 737-200, crashed while maneuvering to land at Colorado Springs, killing all 25 people aboard. The NTSB later linked the loss of control to a rudder-system malfunction, leading to FAA-mandated Boeing 737 rudder inspections and modifications.1
- December 21, 1997: A chartered Beech A100 King Air crashed during a missed ILS approach in fog. The pilot and one passenger were killed, and another passenger was seriously injured. The NTSB cited the pilot’s failure to follow IFR procedures and maintain minimum descent altitude.2
- April 16, 2018: A roof fire damaged the terminal during roofing work involving torch-applied materials. No injuries were reported, but the airport closed for a little over a day.3
- April 15, 2021: A Gates Learjet 35A operated by Medway Air Ambulance stalled and struck the runway during landing after an unstabilized approach. All four people aboard survived without injury.4
References
- NTSB — United Airlines Flight 585 accident report (DCA91MA023) · ntsb.gov ↑
- NTSB — Beech A100 King Air accident report, Colorado Springs (1997) · data.ntsb.gov ↑
- KRDO — Fire at Colorado Springs Airport ruled accidental (2018) · krdo.com ↑
- NTSB — Gates Learjet 35A accident report, Colorado Springs (2021) · data.ntsb.gov ↑
- Colorado Springs Airport Monthly Traffic Reports · coloradosprings.gov
- BTS TranStats — IAH Route Information · transtats.bts.gov
