Richmond International Airport Statistics

RIC sees over 100,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings each year, including commercial, general aviation, cargo and military operations.

• In 2025, there were 108,527 total aircraft operations, showing a 5.8% increase from 102,612 operations in 2024.
• The airport recorded 106,104 movements in 2019.
• In 2020, operations dropped to 70,177, the lowest during the pandemic.
• Activity rose to 88,750 in 2021, 97,772 in 2022 and 104,952 in 2023.

Types of Aircraft Operations

Air carrier flights make up the majority of operations at the airport.

• In 2025, air carrier operations accounted for 57,825 operations.
• Air taxi operations totaled 15,523.
• General aviation contributed 27,466 operations, and military activity added 7,713.

Richmond International Airport shows strong seasonal patterns, with peak summer months and holiday periods driving the highest traffic in 2025.

• July was the busiest month in 2025 with 467,101 passengers, representing the peak of the summer travel season.
• June recorded 456,381 passengers and May saw 454,021 passengers, confirming strong pre-summer and summer travel demand.
• October handled 453,936 passengers and August reached 437,346 passengers, demonstrating sustained travel activity in both summer and fall periods.
• The slowest months were February with 301,029 passengers and January with 329,098 passengers, typical of post-holiday lulls and winter weather conditions.

• Atlanta, GA (ATL) carried 427,040 passengers annually, making it the busiest route.
• Charlotte, NC (CLT) served 299,560 passengers, maintaining its position as the second-busiest route.
• Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) handled 154,240 passengers, providing essential connectivity to American's hub.
• Orlando, FL (MCO) served 147,040 passengers, offering important leisure travel connections to Central Florida and the Orlando tourism market.
• New York–LaGuardia, NY (LGA) carried 140,870 passengers, providing access to New York City and Northeast business and leisure markets.

Flight cancellations have improved at RIC, typically staying below 2%.

• In 2025, 2.09% of flights were canceled, a slight increase from 1.36% in 2024.
• The cancellation rate peaked at 6.94% in 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts.
• It dropped to 1.55% in 2021, rose to 3.31% in 2022 amid staffing and airline disruptions (including Southwest’s December 2022 crisis), then improved again to 1.63% in 2023.

RIC generates $60-70 million in annual operating revenue, with total revenues (including grants) exceeding $90 million in recent years.

• In FY2025 (ending June 30, 2025), the airport reported $70.6 million in operating revenue, a 3.2% increase over FY2024 and a new record.
• In FY2019, revenue was $53.1 million, dropping to $44.4 million in FY2020 and $32.4 million in FY2021 due to the pandemic.
• Revenue rebounded to $55.0 million in FY2022, then to $61.8 million in FY2023 and $68.4 million in FY2024.

• July 17, 1964: An Eastern Air Lines Douglas DC-7 undershot final approach at Byrd Field and struck a jet-blast pad short of the runway. All 76 people aboard survived, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage¹.
• May 6, 1980: A Kennedy Flite Center Gates Learjet 23 crashed beside Runway 33 while landing at Byrd International Airport, killing both pilots. The NTSB cited failure to maintain proper airspeed and attitude, with fatigue and limited Learjet experience contributing².
• June 9, 1996: Eastwind Airlines Flight 517, a Boeing 737-200, experienced a rudder-related yaw/roll upset near Richmond. The crew landed safely with no injuries, and the incident became part of the wider NTSB investigation into Boeing 737 rudder anomalies³.