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The Sunport saw record-setting passenger numbers during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta as carriers increased flights, destinations and sent larger planes to the epicenter of the ballooning universe.
The Albuquerque International Sunport welcomed 316,208 visitors from Oct. 4-18. It also set a single-day, post-COVID-19 travel record, when about 28,000 passengers traveled through the airport on Sunday. Those numbers include inbound and outbound passengers, said Dan Jiron, the Sunport’s business development manager.
The number of guests during the Balloon Fiesta marked a 9% increase from 2019. The Fiesta this year attracted more than 900,000 visitors from across the globe for the nine-day event, according to the city.
Jiron said many of the Sunport’s carriers added additional flights and destinations, or used larger aircraft on Albuquerque flights during the Fiesta. United Airlines, for example, increased its capacity numbers to and from Albuquerque by about 80%, he said.
“It was busy,” Jiron said. “We saw a lot of passengers come through here. But our partners, our retail partners and our food partners, they did a magnificent job of accommodating them.”
Richard McCurley, Albuquerque’s director of aviation, said the Sunport, New Mexico’s largest commercial airport, has seen a steady increase in traffic throughout the year, especially during the holidays.
“But last week with Balloon Fiesta, the Sunport was incredibly lively — and it was amazing,” he said in a statement. “Our Aviation team, including our ambassadors and the K-9 crew, had a wonderful time greeting frequent and first-time visitors. We can’t wait to host them again next year.”
City officials said traffic might have been up for the 51st annual Fiesta because the annular solar eclipse took place on Saturday. The eclipse traveled a direct path across New Mexico. NASA identified Albuquerque as one of the premier places to take in the celestial event.
The 52nd Fiesta is scheduled for Oct. 5-13, 2024.
